GMA to pursue PEA-Amari case

President Arroyo vowed yesterday to prosecute former government officials implicated in the multibillion-peso "mother of landscams" allegedly involving the Public Estates Authority (PEA) and Ital-Thai Amari Development Corp.

Speaking at a press conference at Malacañang, Mrs. Arroyo said she would have them haled to court even if they are members of the People Power Coalition that propelled her to power.

"These things are already in the Ombudsman," the President said.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez told reporters at the same press conference that the PEA-Amari case is now pending before the Sandiganbayan.

"And these cases are being tried," he said. "The Ombudsman is the one handling the prosecution. It is being handled well."

During the 1998 presidential elections, then Vice President Joseph Estrada raised the issue of the PEA-Amari deal against his rival, Speaker Jose de Venecia, who was implicated in the scam but was later cleared of wrongdoing.

Among Ramos administration officials, PEA board trustee Arturo Trinidad was eventually dismissed and charged before the Ombudsman as a result of the investigation in the PEA-Amari deal that was wracked with allegations of anomalies.

Trinidad had implicated former President Fidel Ramos as having allegedly pressured the PRA board to award the controversial contract to Amari.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto later cleared Ramos of any liability based on a sworn affidavit submitted by Trinidad. Desierto is a Ramos appointee. – Marichu Villanueva