GMA elated by CA resolution on bail petition

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elated by the Court of Appeals (CA) resolution affirming an earlier decision by a Pasay City court allowing her to post bail in connection with an electoral sabotage case filed against her.

“She was happy when informed of the CA decision,” Arroyo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said in a text message to The STAR yesterday.

Topacio said the CA’s affirmation of the grant of bail to the former leader bolstered their contention that the case against Arroyo was a mere fabrication by the Aquino administration.

“It was filed with haste to violate her constitutional rights and in furtherance of the Aquino administration’s culture of hate,” he said.

In a two-page resolution dated Sept. 22, the Special Division of the appellate court dismissed the petition filed by the Department of Justice opposing the decision of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) allowing Arroyo to post bail.

Arroyo was charged with electoral sabotage along with former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and former election officer Lintang Bedol for allegedly staging a 12-0 victory for the Team Unity’s senatorial candidates in Maguindanao in the 2007 polls.

Former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who implicated Arroyo in the alleged poll fraud, died of an illness last year.

At least 15 witnesses, including Unas, were presented during the hearings on Arroyo’s petition for bail.

Pasay City RTC Judge Jesus Mupas has allowed the former president to post bail after state prosecutors failed to prove strong evidence against Arroyo.

The CA resolution was penned by Associate Justices Elihu Ybañez, Isaias Dicdican and Victoria Isabel Paredes.

The CA said the government has a weak case against Arroyo.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) then headed by Sixto Brillantes Jr. filed the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo on Nov. 18, 2011.

Arroyo was accused of masterminding fraudulent elections in 2007 in conspiracy with former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos.                 – With Jess Diaz