Palace mum on GMA acquittal

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang distanced itself yesterday from the decision of government prosecutors to dismiss the complaint for criminal negligence filed against Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre where 58 people were killed.

“That is the assessment of the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, so we will leave it at that. We have no further comment,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

The Manila Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the complaint against the former president for lack of evidence.

In a one-page resolution by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Raymunda Cruz-Apolo, Assistant City Prosecutor Wilbur Arimboyutan said nothing in the evidence presented showed that Arroyo should be held liable for criminal negligence for the 2009 massacre in her capacity as president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) vice gubernatorial candidate Marconi Abdulaziz Paiso filed the complaint against Arroyo for allegedly failing to fulfill her duties as president and commander-in-chief to prevent the Maguindanao massacre.

Lacierda said what they are more concerned about is the ongoing trial of the accused led by members of the Ampatuan clan.

He said the government wants a speedy trial and resolution of the case to give justice to the families of the victims of the massacre.

“We haven’t seen the copy of the resolution of the Manila Prosecutor’s Office yet. We might ask (Justice) Secretary (Leila) de Lima for her opinion on that particular resolution,” he told reporters.

The complainant argued that Arroyo’s inaction, ignorance and perhaps tolerance had fueled the tense political situation that led to the incident.

The prosecutor’s office said there is nothing to show that Arroyo was negligent in her duties that could have prevented the mass murder.

“There is no evidence presented to show criminal negligence on the part of Arroyo. The allegations made are more of generalizations and conclusions without supporting proof to show personal culpability of Arroyo,” the resolution said.

The prosecutors said the negligent acts attributed to Arroyo “have no direct causal connection nor even proximate cause of the Maguindanao massacre.”

A similar complaint seeking damages has been filed against Arroyo by relatives of 15 victims of the massacre.

Their lawyers led by Harry Roque argued said the massacre could have been prevented by Arroyo if she did not allow the Ampatuans to reign in Maguindanao.