Monday, July 11, 2011

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.

Read the rest of the story at GMA-NEWS
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