GMA seeks dismissal of P366-M plunder rap

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday asked the Sandiganbayan to junk the P366-million plunder case filed against her by the Office of the Ombudsman for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt after more than a year of trial.

In a 48-page demurer to evidence filed with the anti-graft court’s First Division, Arroyo’s lawyers moved for the dismissal of the charges and argued that the prosecution failed to prove her involvement in the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds from 2008 to 2010.

Arroyo, who has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, said the Sandiganbayan should dismiss the case halfway through the trial because ombudsman lawyers do not have any evidence to show that she amassed ill-gotten wealth.

Government lawyers led by Ma. Hazelina Tujan-Militante had earlier announced that the prosecution would rest its case after presenting 14 witnesses against Arroyo.

Under the rules of court, a demurer to evidence, if granted, is tantamount to an acquittal.

“We are asking for the dismissal of the case on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove its charge of plunder beyond reasonable doubt,” defense lawyer Laurence Arroyo told The STAR.

“One of our arguments is that GMA did not pocket a single centavo of the PCSO intelligence funds,” he added.