Ombudsman to Sandiganbayan: Order Gloria Arroyo's arrest

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday asked the Sandiganbayan to order the arrest of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was released on bail yesterday.

The Ombudsman's lawyers, headed by Director Diosdado Calonge, made the appeal during the first hearing of the plunder case it filed against Arroyo in connection with the misuse of P366 million confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2008 to 2010.

The former president was released from her detention room at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City after Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 granted her petition for bail.

She was released immediately after posting a cash bond of P1 million. The former president is currently in her home at the La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.

Ruth Ferrer, head of the Sandiganbayan's legal division, on Wednesday issued an opinion that Arroyo should not have been released from hospital arrest because she is facing a plunder case.

Sandiganbayan spokesperson Renato Bocar said that according to Ferrer, "there is sufficient legal basis to continue detention of the accused former President because she is facing a plunder charge."

He added that according to the release order issued by Mupas, Arroyo can only be allowed to leave detention "unless she is being held for another charge or lawful cause."

Arroyo is facing an electoral sabotage case before Mupas's court. The case is in connection with the alleged massive fraud during the 2007 mid-term elections.

During the hearing at the Sandiganbayan 1st Division, lawyer Lorna Kapunan manifested that she wanted to join the prosecution team to represent the complainants in the plunder case -- former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros and former military general Danny Lim.

The Sandiganbayan has issued a hold-departure order on Arroyo. -- Michael Punongbayan