GMA given more time to answer fund misuse raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has given former President and now Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and three former key officials more time to answer charges of misuse of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds worth over P550 million in 2004.

During yesterday’s hearing, the DOJ panel conducting the preliminary investigation granted request of Arroyo’s camp for 15 more days to submit their counter-affidavit on the complaint filed by former solicitor general Frank Chavez.

Her lawyer Benjamin Santos explained to the three-person panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva that the former leader was not yet ready to answer the allegations since she only received copy of the complaint last June 1, or five days before the hearing.

“It’s not that Representative Arroyo is not attending the hearing today. It’s a matter of following procedures,” Santos told reporters.

He, however, did not yet detail how the former president would answer the charges since they have yet to completely study the complaints. But he gave assurance that there would be “no admissions of the allegations.”

The lawyers of the other respondents – former executive secretary Alberto Romulo, former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former OWWA administrator Virgilio Angelo – supported the move since their clients have not yet received copies of the complaints.

Under the rules, respondents in a complaint are given 10 days to appear before the DOJ and subscribe a counter-affidavit.

Chavez also submitted an amended complaint, which included incumbent and former members of the OWWA’s board of trustees – among them Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and former labor secretary Patricia Santo Tomas.

Other respondents were identified as former labor undersecretary Manuel Imson, Mina Figueroa, Caroline Rogge, Victorino Balais, Gregorio Oca and Virginia Pasalo.

The additional respondents, according to Chavez, signed and approved the transfer of P530.38 million from OWWA Medicare Fund to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for purely partisan purposes – to enhance the electoral campaign of Arroyo in the 2004 elections.

The filing of the amended complaint prompted the DOJ panel to grant the request for extension of the original respondents to also give the new ones ample time to submit their answers. The next hearing is set on June 23 at 10 a.m.

In his complaint, Chavez accused Arroyo of plunder, qualified theft, graft and corruption and violations of Article VI Section 29 (3) of the Constitution, Articles 217 and 220 of Revised Penal Code and Section 261 of Omnibus Election Code.

“Respondent GMA, in conspiracy with, and with the indispensable complicity of her co-respondents herein, purposely and systematically orchestrated the diversion and/or misuse of the OWWA fund, financing questionable acquisitions by several Philippine diplomatic posts in the Middle East, the humanitarian assistance to Iraq, and re-election bid of respondent GMA – all of which do not contribute, and could never have contributed, to the direct and exclusive benefit of the Filipino overseas workers,” Chavez alleged.

Complainant submitted as proof Executive Order 182 issued by Arroyo on Feb.14, 2003 transferring OWWA Medicare Funds worth P530,382,446 to PhilHealth then headed by Duque.

Chavez recalled that Arroyo had distributed millions of health cards from PhilHealth prior to the 2004 polls.

He also submitted a memorandum signed by Romulo on March 12, 2003 seeking release of $293,500 purportedly for “preparatory activities of Philippine post in Kuwait and purchase of vehicles and stockpiling of posts in Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Iran – in support of the US-led war in Iraq.”

The document had a marginal note from Arroyo, which reads “OK, charge to OWWA.” It also showed that another $53,000 was already taken from OWWA.