Ex-solons in Region 8 hail Arroyo’s case dismissal

TACLOBAN CITY, July 20 (PNA) -- Former members of the House of Representatives in Eastern Visayas have welcomed the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling dismissing the plunder case of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Former Leyte 2nd district Rep. Sergio Apostol said that the decision of the SC in acquitting the former Chief Executive is in accordance with the law.

“Arroyo was acting as the President of our country, doing it for the welfare of our country and she did not pocket the money,” Apostol said in an interview with PNA.

“The plunder charge against the former President would not reach Supreme Court had the Sandiganbayan acted on it,” he added.

The former solon, who served as the chairman of the Committee on Justice in Congress during the first three years of Arroyo administration said that filing of a plunder case against Arroyo was politically motivated.

“She did not act, she just told the PCSO board to use that fund,” said Apostol, who also served as Arroyo’s presidential legal counsel, who engineered giving pardon to former President Joseph Estrada.

Plunder charges arise from the alleged embezzlement of PHP366 million in intelligence funds of the PCSO from 2008 to 2010.

“Arroyo did not embezzle the intelligence funds of the PCSO, he was just been involved because of the marginal note,” Apostol said

Former Northern Samar 2nd district Rep. Emil Ong was, however, saddened that it took so long for the High Court to decide on the case.

Citing the Constitution, Ong, a lawyer, said that the SC must decide on special cases such as Arroyo’s for not more than one year.

“It’s too harsh, why did they delay the decision of the case if the respondent is innocent?” he asked.

Ong, a former Arroyo ally, believed that the new administration wanted a fair and speedy decision without political considerations that’s why the SC immediately decided on the case.

“Maybe SC justices was just scared to be impeached because of the former administration has many allies in the previous Congress,” he added.

“It should really be a precedent that they shall abide on their mandated task and not be afraid of any persecution coming from any administration because they have their fixed term,” Ong said.

Under Arroyo’s administration, Ong was the vice chairman of Committee on Appropriation and chairman of the Committee on Labor in the House of Representatives. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS/EGR