Bedol asks court to dismiss poll sabotage charge

MANILA, Philippines - A co-accused of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked yesterday the Pasay City regional trial court to dismiss the electoral sabotage case against him for the continuing delay in its prosecution.

During pretrial former Maguindanao election office Lintang Bedol, through lawyer Reynaldo Princesa, told Judge Jesus Mupas the case must be dismissed because “the continuous delay in the proceedings violated his right to a speedy trial.”

The lawyer made the motion after lead prosecutor Esmeraldo Ladra manifested that their appearances in court would be affected because the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be busy with preparations for the midterm election next year.

Princesa said the election has nothing to do with trial and the Comelec cannot invoke the right of suffrage because every accused has the right to a speedy trial.

The Comelec has asked Mupas to postpone the hearings next year so that the officials can attend to their election duties.

However, the court set aside the motion and ordered the resumption of the pretrial yesterday and on Nov. 22.

The accused can seek if the dismissal of the case after the prosecution fails to present witnesses and evidence in three consecutive hearings, Felda Domingo, court spokesperson, told reporters.

Pretrial hearings are also scheduled on Jan. 31 and Feb 7 next year.

Arroyo’s lawyer has strongly opposed the Comelec motion to reset the pretrial to Jan. 31 next year as this may violate her right to a speedy trial.

During yesterday’s hearing Arroyo sought the termination of the pretrial and instead proceed to the trial proper so they can respond to the witnesses and evidence presented.

The defense asked the prosecution to provide them with the names of the first five witnesses and the relevance of their testimonies.

The Comelec has lined up 55 witnesses against Arroyo and her co-accused.

Arroyo has been granted a P1-million bail for her temporary liberty, but she was rearrested on a new plunder charge for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.