Court sets July 10 deadline for Comelec, GMA on bail petition memo

Manila, Philippines -  Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jesus Mupas has set July 10 as deadline for the Commission on Elections and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to submit their respective memorandum on the bail petition filed by the former president in connection with the electoral sabotage case.

Felda Domingo, Pasay RTC Branch 112 spokesperson, said that as of yesterday lawyers of the Comelec and Arroyo have not yet submitted their memorandum on the bail petition.

Arroyo and her co-accused former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election officer Lintang Bedol were charged with electoral sabotage for allegedly cheating in the 2007 elections in Maguindanao.

Domingo said Mupas would issue a resolution on the bail petition after both parties have submitted their respective memorandum.

"As soon as both parties submit their memo then the case will be submitted for resolution," Domingo said.

She said Mupas has already set the pre-trial of the case on Aug. 23.

"The Aug. 23 pre-trial will proceed irregardless of the decision of the court on whether to grant or deny the motion to fix bail," Domingo said.

The Comelec prosecutors have presented 10 witnesses including former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, a close aide of Ampatuan who testified that he heard Arroyo order Ampatuan to ensure a 12-0 victory for the senatorial candidates of the then administration's coalition Team Unity.

The witnesses presented by Bedol have tagged Unas as the alleged brains of the manufacture and distribution of fake election documents.

However, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes had already confirmed that he has granted immunity from criminal prosecution to Unas in exchange for his testimony against Arroyo in the electoral sabotage case.

"Under the law, we are empowered to give immunity from suit to a witness and that is what Unas is now. After this we will put him under the Witness Protection Program," he said.

Brillantes said they did not charge Unas who had volunteered to testify against Arroyo even before he could be charged. – With Delon Porcalla