Arroyo skips DOJ plunder hearing for the 3rd time

For the third time, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was a no-show at the Department of Justice (DOJ) hearing on the plunder charges lodged against her in connection with the alleged misuse of welfare funds meant for migrant workers during her administration. Arroyo, incumbent congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district, was supposed to swear and subscribe to the authenticity of her counter-affidavit, but could not do so because, like in the past two hearings, she was abroad. The former President was supposed to return to the country last week, but this was deferred, according to her lawyer, Benjamin Santos. “She was supposed to have returned in the middle of last week, but she had other matters to attend to. It is not our intention to delay the proceedings," Santos told the panel of prosecutors. Santos, then, asked the prosecutors to give Arroyo more time to file her counter-affidavit. “We would like to assure the honorable hearing panel that she’ll be coming within this week and therefore, as soon as she arrives, we are going to have her sign before the panel or a representative that a panel will be designating, that she will swear to her counter-affidavit," he said. Interviewed by reporters, Santos said that the plunder charges against Arroyo should be dismissed as they were “absolutely baseless." “There is absolutely no basis for the charges, absolutely none," he said. The case was filed in April by former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, who accused Arroyo and other ranking officials of her administration of misusing the welfare funds for overseas workers. Chavez claimed that about P550 billion in private Overseas Workers’ Welfare Association (OWWA) funds were infused into PhilHealth funds, which are public in nature. He also alleged that some P530 million was used for Arroyo’s election campaign in 2004. On Monday’s hearing, Chavez’s counsel, Andre de Jesus, voiced opposition to Santos’ request for an extension in the filing of Arroyo’s counter-affidavit. “I am quite surprised about the manifestation of the good counsel," De Jesus said. “This is the third time that the good counsel for respondent Arroyo has requested for a resetting of the case despite an express commitment [last June 23]. I’d like the records to reflect the vehement objection to the said motion of the good counsel for respondent Arroyo." But despite De Jesus’ opposition, the DOJ panel gave Arroyo’s camp until July 22 to file the counter-affidavit and appear before the panel. DOJ panel member Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo told Santos that if Arroyo could not make it on July 22, “the panel will be constrained to submit this [plunder] complaint for resolution." Present on Monday’s hearing were former PhilHealth president Francisco Duque III and former Labor secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, who both submitted their counter-affidavits. The other respondents — former Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, former OWWA administrator Virgilio Angelo, and former OWWA board member Caroline Rogge —only submitted their pleadings through their counsels. Incumbent Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who is also a respondent, filed and subscribed to her counter-affidavit last Friday. Meanwhile, OWWA Board of Trustees member Victorino Balais and former OWWA board members Manuel Imson, Mina Figueroa, and Virginia Pasalo were also given until July 22 for the submission of their counter-affidavits. Imson is in Geneva, Switzerland as the Philippines’ labor attaché there. One of the respondents, Gregorio Oca, will be cleared of any criminal liability as he is already deceased. — KBK, GMA News