‘GMA should be granted bail in PCSO case’

MANILA, Philippines - Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello believes former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be granted bail in connection with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) plunder case she is facing because only “implicit evidence” has been presented against her.

In a recent interview over the television program “Bawal ang Pasaway” hosted by economist Winnie Monsod, Bello said the finding of the Sandiganbayan of “implicit evidence” against the accused runs contrary to existing laws because the evidence required must be explicit.

He said he plans to ask the Sandiganbayan to clarify its ruling on the bail denial of Arroyo when it granted the bail petitions of her co-accused who are former members of the PCSO board of directors.

Bello said that in the absence of finding of explicit evidence, then the anti-graft court’s First Division which is handling the case should grant Arroyo bail.

Monsod also expressed belief that Arroyo is being “persecuted” and not prosecuted in the PCSO plunder case.

She said the supposed lack of evidence and the granting of bail of Arroyo’s co-accused violated her rights to due process and equal protection of the law.

Former Far Eastern University law dean Antonio Abad also echoed Monsod’s statement.

“If you treat a co-conspirator one way, then you should also treat the others ones the same way. Where is the strong evidence? There is no strong evidence. (PCSO director) Aleta Tolentino was appointed by President Aquino after the so-called embezzlement. She said there is no proof that GMA pocketed PCSO funds. COA auditor Flerida Jimenez said the funds were duly liquidated,” he said.

“Since this case is predicated on the theory of conspiracy – that the act of one is the act of all – then if you release one, you have to release all. Their liability is the same, it is collective and not individual,” Abad said.