GMA bail bid in electoral sabotage case set for resolution

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 has set for resolution next month the motion to post bail filed by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Felda Domingo, spokesperson of RTC Branch 112, said after five months of hearings Judge Jesus Mupas will issue a ruling next month.

“Both the prosecution and defense have already rested their presentation of evidence. Judge Mupas has already set the case for resolution,” she said.

The former president and her co-accused former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol have filed their respective motions for bail.

The prosecution has presented Norie Unas, former provincial administrator of Maguindanao, as witness in their opposition to the bail of Arroyo, who is facing electoral sabotage charges in connection with alleged cheating in 2007 midterm elections in Maguindanao.

Unas testified that he heard Arroyo order his former boss, ex-Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. of Maguindanao, to ensure a 12-0 victory for the senatorial candidates of the administration coalition Team Unity.

Unas alleged that he also received money from the Arroyos to fund the alleged cheating in the province, aside from logistics support to the Comelec.

He, however, denied direct involvement in the alleged cheating.

But despite his denial, Unas was tagged as the brains in the making and distribution of fake and tampered election documents that were submitted to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City after the elections.

Saliao Amba and Magsaysay Mohamad, former election officers of Mamasapanu and Sultan sa Baronguis, respectively, in Maguindanao province, testified during the bail hearing that Unas headed the manufacturing and distribution of fake and tampered election documents.

Under direct examination of Bedol’s lawyer Reynaldo Princesa, Amba and Mohamad, who earlier swore before the Koran, said that after the distribution of the fake election returns they were directed to go to the provincial capitol to fill up blank ballots in favor of the Team Unity senatorial candidates.

“Unas, who was the little governor (of Maguindanao), provided the code that we wrote on the blank ballots,” Saliao said.

He said they were not able to defy the order of Unas because he was the little governor with fully armed men at his disposal.

“We do not want to die so we follow the orders of Unas,” he said.

Saliao said the manufactured ballots and election returns were submitted to the NBOC and were the basis of the proclamation of some senatorial candidates after the election. – With Christina Mendez, Delon Porcalla