MILITANT lawmakers filed criminal and graft charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a day after her immunity against suit expired June 30.
Bayan Muna lawmakers Teddy Casino and Neri Colmenares slapped Arroyo with charges in relation to the botched National Broadband Network-ZTE Corporation deal, the "Hello, Garci" scandal, the fertilizer scam and human rights violations.
They said Arroyo violated the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials for her involvement in the alleged controversies.
“The regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ended. But its crimes live on. Unless justice is rendered on Arroyo and those who conspired with her, impunity reigns and will continue to reign,” the lawmakers said.
Bayan Muna wants the DOJ to investigate first the NBN-ZTE project last 2007 where it was alleged that Arroyo ordered SSS president and chief executive officer Romulo Neri and other officials to approve the anomalous contract.
It said that Arroyo should be charged guilty for violating the Government Procurement Act for exerting undue pressure on the Bids and Awards Committee to favorably endorse the NBN-ZTE project despite the said irregularities.
Casino said they initially thought of re-filing the case before the Ombudsman but decided against it since it would likely be dismissed as the chief of the anti-graft body, Merceditas Gutierrez, was appointed by Arroyo.
“Basically, wala na kaming tiwala sa Ombudsman. We feel na malabo na makakuha ng hustisya sa Ombudsman, so we are trying this noble route through the DOJ.”
Bayan Muna also wanted that charges will be filed against former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, former Transportation and Communication secretary Leandro Mendoza, Neri, former poll Commissioner Benjamin Abalos, among others.
“With Arroyo’s stepping down from power and lapse of her immunity from suit, the people now have the opportunity to hold her accountable for her various crimes and misdemeanors,” the complaint stated.
The group further said Arroyo’s election as member of the House of Representatives makes the imposition of administrative sanctions feasible, in addition to the withholding of her retirement benefits as former President.
It would be recalled that the Ombudsman dismissed the graft complaint earlier filed against Arroyo by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) in connection with the NBN-ZTE anomalies.
The Ombudsman’s special investigation panel, in a resolution issued on April 21, 2009 also denied the petitioners’ motion to indict Mike Arroyo for lack of evidence, but sustained the graft charges filed against Abalos and Neri.
The panel held that Abalos failed to justify his interest in the NBN project when he was still the head of Commission on Elections (Comelec), particularly his presence in China where the initial negotiations with ZTE officials were held.
The panel also considered the claims made by businessman Jose de Venecia III and engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, that Abalos offered them bribes in the amount of $10 million and P200 million, respectively, if the ZTE deal would push through.
On the other hand, the panel recommended the indictment of Neri based on his own admission that he allowed Lozada – who was not connected to National Economic Development Authority (Neda) – to intervene in the discussions on the NBN deal. (Kathrina Alvarez/JCV/Sunnex)