More cases up vs Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines – Beleaguered Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will face more graft complaints on top of the three charges that were raffled today at the 4^th Division of the Sandiganbayan .

Early today, three graft cases against Arroyo in relation to the botched NBN-ZTE deal were raffled to the 4th Division of Sandiganbayan.

Among the respondents of the complaints included former first gentleman Mike Arroyo, former election chief Benjamin Abalos and former transportation chair Leandro Mendoza.

In an interview with reporters, Associate Justice  and Division Chairman Gregory Ong vowed no special treatment for the former President and her co-accused.

Meantime, Mrs. Arroyo along with former National Telecommunication Commission chairman Ruel Canobas will be facing graft charge before the Ombudsman over allegations of illegal frequencies trading, said lawyer Roberto Guevarra.

Guevarra dubbed the new allegation as "NBN-ZTE Jr.", which was carried out by the Arroyo administration after the NBN-ZTE deal was foiled.

“Ngayong nagsimula na ang pag-uusisa kay kay GMA at FG sa kanilang pagkakasangot sa NBN-ZTE scandal, sana naman ito ay simula na rin ng pag-uusig at pag-uusisa sa NBN-ZTE junior,”he said.

He also pointed out that the illegal frequencies trading resulted to the resurrection of Altimax Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)in 2007.

Guevarra is referring to the revival ABC’s legislative franchise, which expire in 2005.

The franchise allowed Altimax to establish, operate and maintain radio and television broadcasting facilities in the Philippines within five years or until 2005.

Nine years after, ABC has neither constructed transmitters, towers, relay stations, produce and air television or radio programs necessary to carry out  its franchise.

Upon inspection, NTC reported that no Altimax offices or stations ever existed.

"It turned out, Globe bought Altimax and transformed the franchise for a National Broadcasting Network into a National Broadband Network, which blatantly violates the congressional franchise,” Guevarra added.

Last October 2011, Sen. Antonio Trillanes  lambasted the Globe-Altimax-Innove deal  for depriving the government of revenues while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the Globe-Altimax-NTC deal was anomalous.