'Morong 43' ask judge to speed up case vs CGMA

Members of the so-called "Morong 43" today asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to facilitate the P15 million civil case against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Through their lawyer Edre Olalia, the group filed a second urgent manifestation with motion to resolve the case against Arroyo before the sala of QC-RTC Judge Maria Luisa Padilla of Branch 226.

The case stemmed from the illegal arrest and detention of 43 health workers on Feb.6 last year during a raid in Morong town in Rizal.

Joint forces of the military and police alleged that the arrested persons were communist rebels. They also claimed that they recovered from the members of the group firearms and chemicals used to manufacture explosives.

After being detained for 10 months, the health workers were released after a review of the Department of Justice.

Olalia said his clients do not care for the renumeration if they win the case but to make those involved in the arrest accountable for what they have done.

"Nasira ang mga buhay nila," Olalia said.

He said that after the court identifies the properties of the Arroyos, the trial proper will then proceed.

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, several high ranking military and police officials were named respondents.