GMA asks court to reject Bedol testimony

MANILA, Philippines - Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked yesterday the Pasay City regional trial court to reject a motion of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offering the testimonies of witnesses presented by co-accused Lintang Bedol as part of evidence in opposition to the petition for bail of the former president.

Arroyo’s lawyer Benjamin Santos filed a motion to reject the motion because the bail hearings have already been terminated.

The defense also cited the previous ruling of Judge Jesus Mupas accepting testimony of witnesses who tagged former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas as the brains in the manufacture and distribution of fake election documents during the 2007 midterm election in Maguindanao.

Mupas earlier ruled during the last hearing that Bedol, former Maguindanao election officer, could present his own witnesses to refute the claim of Unas that he was responsible for the alleged tampering of election documents during the 2007 polls.

Mupas, however, clarified that as agreed during a conference with both the Comelec and lawyers of the co-accused in the electoral sabotage charges, Bedol and former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the testimonies of witnesses would not affect the bail petition.

Comelec prosecutor Esmeralda Ladra expressed opposition and filed their formal offer yesterday.

Santos said they have already rested their case and are also preparing their memorandum on the bail petition of Arroyo.

“We are asking the court to expunge or erase the testimonies of the witnesses presented by Bedol,” he said.

He said the prosecution has failed to present any strong evidence to directly link Arroyo to the alleged cheating except on hearsay testimony of Unas that he heard Arroyo instructing Ampatuan to ensure a 12-0 victory for the senatorial candidates of the administration coalition Team Unity.

In his testimony Unas claimed that he heard Arroyo order his boss ex-Gov. Ampatuan to ensure the 12-0 victory for Team Unity.

Unas also denied involvement in the alleged poll cheating.

Defense lawyers earlier branded as hearsay the testimony of Unas.

Unas had also admitted his fear of being implicated in the electoral fraud case in Maguindanao had compelled him to come out and testify in the electoral sabotage case.