Ex-Philippine president’s arrest ordered

11 years ago | Posted in: Latest Politics News | 709 Views

THE Philippine anti-graft court has ordered the arrest of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the third corruption investigation against her.
This one accused her of misusing $US8.8 million ($A8.66 million) in state lottery funds during her last years in office.
The former president, who is suffering from a neck ailment, was detained for about eight months in a government hospital in a separate election sabotage case before she posted bail in July.
She has also posted bail in another case against her that stems from a deal with a Chinese telecommunications company.
She has accused her successor, Benigno Aquino III, of pursuing a political vendetta.
Aquino has accused Arroyo of graft and promised to rid the Philippines of corruption.
Arroyo’s lawyer Anacleto Diaz said on Thursday that the witnesses against her had no personal knowledge of the transactions of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
It’s alleged that money from the agency’s intelligence funds was diverted for personal gain from 2008 until Arroyo stepped down in 2010.
The other cases are ongoing with witness testimony under way.
Diaz told reporters the court suspended the arrest warrant against Arroyo and nine others.
But Special Prosecutor Diosdado Calonge said the warrant would be implemented unless it was recalled by the anti-graft court or stopped by the Supreme Court.
Court Sheriff Albert dela Cruz said he released the arrest orders on Thursday.
The nine other people are mostly former senior officials of the lottery agency. The charges against them and Arroyo are punishable by life imprisonment and no bail is allowed.
Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Arroyo conspired with lottery officials and government auditors “to surreptitiously divert public funds sourced from PCSO’s operating budget for personal gain”.
Arroyo, 65, now a member of Congress representing her home province of Pampanga, is seeking re-election next year.
Ref: http://www.news.com.au

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