Aquino: 4 cases being developed vs Arroyo officials

At least four cases are now “simultaneously being developed" against officials from the Arroyo administration who may have committed abuses involving government money, President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday. “There are so many simultaneously being developed… The executive is actually building up several cases," Aquino told reporters at a press briefing in Malacañang. He said the current controversy involving the sports utility vehicles allegedly given by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) — to certain Catholic bishops was among the cases being developed. “Merong three actually in my mind right now, that case is the fourth," Aquino said, referring to the PCSO controversy. He added that Arroyo may be included in the cases “assuming that the evidence gets to that level." “It does represent quite a broad spectrum of personalities," he said. Aquino refused to give other details so as “not make the life of the investigator harder." “I cannot tell you [the details]. Yung syempre preparing the case, maghahanda ka ng witnesses, maghahanda ka ng documentation. If I say ganito then that makes the difficulties of the investigator really much harder," he said. He said it will depend on the investigators which of the cases will be filed first. Meanwhile, Aquino refused to comment on the Ombudsman’s order to investigate Arroyo in connection with her alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. “I have to look at the details of that. And I don't think I can or should comment on something that is actually under the process already," he said. Arroyo’s spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, has yet to reply to text messages sent by GMA News Online for their comment as of posting time. - KBK, GMA News