GMA constituents ask SC to stop plunder trial

MANILA, Philippines -  Constituents of embattled former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Pampanga filed a motion before the Supreme Court (SC) in an effort to stop her trial before the Sandiganbayan in the P365.9-million plunder case involving the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

Saying they are being deprived of due representation in Congress because of Arroyo’s questioned indictment, a group represented by four voters from the second district of Pampanga, which Arroyo represents, filed a motion for intervention last Friday.

Petitioners Rico Ocampo, Eugene Paul Ponio, Marcelo Valencia and Joaquin Mañalac sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the first division of the anti-graft court and the Office of the Ombudsman from proceeding with Arroyo’s trial.

“The intervenors stand to benefit or be prejudiced with respect to the outcome of the case at hand because it is our representation to the House of Representatives that is unduly affected in this case,” read the seven-page petition filed by lawyer Vinalyn Potot-Baluran.   

The petitioners said their congressional representative was deprived of due process when the handling division of Sandiganbayan ordered her arrest last Oct. 4, a day before a hearing was set on her motion questioning the ombudsman’s finding of probable cause against her.

The group supports Arroyo’s prayer in her earlier petition for the annulment of the ombudsman’s resolution approving her indictment for the complaint filed by Jaime Regalario, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Danilo Lim and effective dismissal of the case.

Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center due to spine problems, filed her petition last October.

But the high court – now under Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who was appointed by President Aquino last August – has not acted on it. Her case was reportedly assigned to Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, another Aquino appointee.