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DOJ puts probe on Arroyo corruption case on hold


The Department of Justice (DOJ) has put on hold its investigation into the graft complaint filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the allegedly anomalous multi-million broadband deal her government entered with a Chinese firm. DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said they would wait first for the Truth Commission — the independent body formed to investigate the unresolved corruption controversies under the Arroyo government — to come up with its parameters before starting their own inquiry. “We have to see first the final output of the executive order, the parameters and scope, and what are the cases and issues covered by the order so that there will be no duplication of time and efforts," De Lima told reporters in an interview Monday. President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III has appointed retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to head the commission. Both De Lima served under Arroyo, the former as head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) while the latter as chief justice and later on as Ambassador to the United Nations. Coordination De Lima said her department is willing to help the commission in the investigation. “I’ll expect that the Justice Department will be asked to provide assistance [to the investigation]. The DOJ will be there to evaluate the evidence, to determine the competent, relevant and material evidence to make up a good and strong case," she said. Party-list group Bayan Muna last week filed a criminal complaint against Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing the second district of Pampanga, for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, and the Government Procurement Act when her government approved in 2007 the $329-million national broadband network project with China’s ZTE Corp. The deal, which was supposed to connect government agencies throughout the Philippines through the Internet, was canceled on the same year after reports of corruption involving Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo, and several government officials broke out. Limited immunity A president loses his or her immunity from suits once he or she steps down from office. As congresswoman, Arroyo’s immunity is limited. Article 6, Section 11 of the 1986 Constitution states that members of Congress “shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof." The Office of the Ombudsman, the body that investigates accusations of corruption against public officials, has cleared the Arroyo couple of involvement in the controversial botched deal. It however charged former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos and former Socioeconomic Planning secretary Romulo Neri. The two former officials, who both denied involvement in the controversy, have posted bail to evade arrest. Their arraignments are scheduled next month. The Sandiganbayan’s 4th Division is handling Abalos’ graft case, while its 5th Division is handling Neri’s. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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