Arroyo, son cleared from plunder

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the plunder case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and his son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, in connection with alleged anomalies in the now defunct projects in Camarines Sur.

In a 28-page investigation report, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio approved on April 22 the investigation panel's recommendation to dismiss the plunder case on the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam and Skybridge 1 and 2 projects due to insufficient evidence.

The Ombudsman's Field Investigation Office found no evidence showing the participation of the two Arroyos' in the planning and implementation of the projects.

Investigations similarly found no traces of ill-gotten wealth by the respondents or by their subordinates in the National Irrigation Administration, under which the project was undertaken, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The construction activities were not funded by Arroyo's social fund as president nor by Dato's Priority Development Assistance Fund or "pork barrel," the Ombudsman said.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed in March 2013 by lawyers Roberto Guevarra, Renecio Espiritu Jr., Jose Aaron Pedrosa and Juliano Guiang.

The group claimed that Arroyo and her son committed plunder "directly or through their subordinates at NIA and DPWH as dummies, by taking material possession and then disposing freely of billions of pesos of taxpayer’s money packaged by respondent Gloria Arroyo as birthday gift to her son [in September 2008]."

The complainants also alleged that the Arroyo matriarch diverted the funds or government assets for Dato’s electoral bid for the province's 2nd District in the May 2010 elections.

They also called the projects "manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government."

The Libmanan-Cabusao Dam project, costing over P700 million covers the construction of 10.29 kilometers of diversion canal and appurtenant structures deal, was awarded to A.M. Ortea & Co. in May 2009 but was ordered suspended by NIA Administrator Carlos Salazar in December of the same year.

In terminating the project, Salazar cited a study of the Ateneo de Naga University reporting the possibility that downstream towns may be inundated by the dam. The communities' livelihood and homes may also be destroyed by the water.

Skybridge 1 and 2 construction projects pegged at P1.164 billion, meanwhile, encountered issues that caused delay and additional cost. The project was awarded to R.D. Policarpio & Co, Inc. and R.D. Interior Construction Inc.