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CGMA and
Abalos: From one case to another
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from
NAMFREL Election Monitor Vol.2, No.25 |
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After her being on hospital arrest at the
Veterans Memorial Medical Center for electoral sabotage case in
relation to the 2007 elections, the lawyers of former President and
currently Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have resigned upon
request of their client. Father and son lawyers Jose and Albert
Flaminiano and Laurence Arroyo filed before Pasay RTC Judge Jesus
Mupas a motion to withdraw as legal counsels of Rep. Arroyo. Only
Atty. Benjamin Santos remains as counsel to represent Arroyo in the
electoral sabotage case. CGMA requested the three lawyers to
concentrate on the graft cases at the Sandiganbayan.
Meanwhile, Pasay RTC Judge Jesus Mupas issued a warrant of arrest
against former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos and his lawyer
Brigido Dulay on charges of contempt. The presiding judge on the
electoral sabotage case asked the respondents to explain why they
should not be held in contempt for their accusations that the judge
extorted money from them in relation to favorable decisions on the
case. Abalos is currently detained at the Southern Police District
headquarters in Taguig City. Abalos filed before the court several
motions including inhibition of Judge Jesus Mupas, motion to bail
and house arrest, which are yet to be resolved by the court.
Incidentally, CGMA and Abalos are also co-accused on two counts of
graft case filed by Bayan Muna Party list Rep. Teddy Casiño in
relation to the botched NBN-ZTE deal. The case is under the
jurisdiction of Justice Gregory Ong of the Sandiganbayan.
Arroyo and Abalos are facing two counts of violations of Republic
Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic
Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees before the Sandiganbayan in connection with
the $329-million National Broadbank Network- ZTE contract together
with Abalos.
In a resolution, the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order
against Arroyo and her co-accused in the graft case. This will
prevent them from leaving the country without the court’s
permission.
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