Ex-Sandigan justice pushes GMA bail

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should “at the very least” be granted bail due to the lack of evidence in the plunder case against her, a former presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan said yesterday.

Edilberto Sandoval said since most of Arroyo’s co-accused were either granted bail or cleared, she should also be allowed to post bail.

He said since Arroyo’s co-accused were acquitted with the granting of their demurrer to evidence, “then it means that prosecution was not able to present strong evidence against them, then there is no reason for her to be still in detention. She should be granted bail at the very least.”

Arroyo is on trial for plunder for allegedly misappropriating P366 million in confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. She is currently detained at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Her co-accused former PCSO directors Manuel Morato, Ray Roquero, Jose Taruc V and Ma. Fatima Valdes and former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo Villar were acquitted after the graft court granted their demurrer to evidence.

Her other co-accused, former PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia, is out on bail. Only Arroyo and former PCSO finance officer Benigno Aguas remain in detention.