SC denies bid to review junked malversation case vs Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has upheld the Office of the Ombudsman's decision junking the malversation complaint filed against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the alleged misuse of P530-million funds for overseas Filipino workers.

In a decision dated January 17, the high court junked the petition for review filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez.

The Court said that Chavez failed to prove that the Office of the Ombudsman committed errors for not finding probable cause against Arroyo and the other respondents, including former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Virgilio Angelo, former Labor Undersecretary and OWWA board member Manuel Imson, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who was then the administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and former OWWA board members Mina Figueroa, Caroline Rogge, Victorino Balais and Virginia Pasalo.

In a decision on October of last year, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales did not agree with the findings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommending the filing of malversation charges against Arroyo.

Morales said that the DOJ's ruling lacked evidence.

Chavez had alleged that the OWWA funds were used for the reelection of Arroyo in 2004.

The Ombudsman, however, said that this could not have happened because the fund was released in 2005.