No strong case vs GMA, says lawyer

MANILA, Philippines -  The camp of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said the Aquino administration has no strong evidence against the former President in connection with her plunder case over the alleged misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). 

“There is no strong evidence at all against the former President. This is all just persecution,” Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s spokesman, said in reaction to Aquino’s statement that the government has a strong case against Arroyo. Lambino said Aquino has previously made a similar pronouncement on the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo, but the Pasay City regional trial court found the government prosecutors’ case weak and allowed her to post bail.

“He’s going to say that (because) that is his obsession – to go after his enemies,” Lambino said.

“If they really had a strong case, they should have filed the case before Arroyo finished her term,” he added.

“The only thing they have is her marginal note on the request for the funds,” he said.

Lambino said in an attempt to bolster the case, the Ombudsman included in the charge sheet former Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Reynaldo Villar, who cleared the PCSO transactions.

“In trying to justify their allegations, they included the former COA officials, when the same practices have been done by previous presidents on PCSO funds,” Lambino said. – With Reinir Padua, Sandy Araneta, Rhodina Villanueva