Mikey arraignment postponed

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge postponed yesterday the scheduled arraignment of Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela for tax evasion after the court cited the accused couple’s pending appeal before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Judge Marie Christine Jacob of the Regional Trial Court Branch 100 reset the arraignment on Jan. 18, 2012.

The couple had also asked the court’s permission to travel to the United States from Nov. 14 to Dec. 7, 2011 for a “semi-official business.”

Rep. Arroyo plans to meet the members of the Filipino community in Southern California and solicit donations to provide medicines to his constituents.

Arroyo is facing three counts of allegedly failing to file income tax returns (ITRs) for 2007 to 2009.

Angela was charged with seven counts of allegedly failing to file ITRs for 2003 to 2009.

The congressman had posted a P140,000 bail while Angela posted a P60,000 bail.

Both accused had earlier filed the omnibus motion to defer their arraignment for tax evasion raps pending the Department of Justice’s ruling on an appeal.

The Arroyos have sought the arraignment’s postponement as the DOJ had not yet issued a resolution on their motion for reconsideration.

The prosecution did not manifest any objection to the plea for the postponement of the arraignment.

They have asked the DOJ to reverse its initial findings finding probable cause for the tax evasion raps against them.

Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Cristina Barot said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had issued an order placing the Arroyo couple on the Bureau of Immigration watchlist.

Assistant State Prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario said they do not see any necessity for the lawmaker to travel in the reasons he had stated.

Arroyo’s laywer Ruy Rondain said: “I don’t recognize the watchlist order issued by the DOJ.”

Jacob said she would issue an order resolving the matter tomorrow.