Pasay court grants Arroyo bail on poll fraud case

25-Jul-12, 8:29 AM | Lira Dalangin-Fernandez and Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com, Gerard Garcia, News5, and Radyo Singko

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

(UPDATE 13 - 3:54 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines -- Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been granted bail on the electoral sabotage case filed against her.
Pasay City Regional Trial Court sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje served the resolution of RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas on Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where she has been detained since late last year.
The case has to do with the alleged manipulation of votes in Maguindanao province during the 2007 midterm elections when Arroyo's senatorial slate pulled off a zero-twelve sweep.
In its ruling, the court said the prosecution failed to establish the "required quantum of proof" that Arroyo was involved in a conspiracy to rig the elections.
However the court said she could not leave the country and would still stand trial for the offense.
The sheriff, who had no police escorts, also went to Camp Crame around 9:45 a.m. to inform former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol that a similar petition he filed had been denied.
From Camp Crame, Buenviaje proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to serve the resolution on another co-accused of Arroyo, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is detained there on charges for his alleged involvement in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre. It is not yet certain what the resolution has to say about Ampatuan.
In a phone interview, Arroyo lawyer Montri Santos said they are at the Pasay court waiting for a copy of the decision and added that the former president's bail has been set at P1 million.
"I was told that a sheriff is on his way to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to deliver the decision. Once it is received, we are ready with the bail," he said.
HDO
The grant of bail came a day after the Bureau of Immigration issued a hold departure order against Arroyo, now second district representative of Pampanga, for a separate plunder case over the alleged misuse of intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and two days after President Benigno Aquino III's third State of the Nation Address.
Eight former officials of the PCSO have also been charged with Arroyo.
Santos said Arroyo could leave the hospital as soon the court procedures are through.
He also dismissed reports she would be detained anew as a new arrest warrant is pending at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, where she has been charged for plunder.
"They cannot serve the warrant because we have a pending urgent motion for reconsideration on the plunder case," Santos said. "If they do, then they would be committing another irregularity for detaining her."
To be released soon 
Before Wednesday noon, Arroyo's lawyers were able to post a P1-million bail for their client at the Pasay Regional Trial Court. Mupas has already signed the release order for Arroyo, who is expected to be out of the hospital by Wednesday afternoon.
Before 2 p.m., media reported that the Pasay RTC sheriff had arrived at the VMCC to serve the bail papers. VMMC director Nora Legaspi said the hospital had already issued Arroyo's discharge papers.
Arroyo counsel, Ferdinand Topacio in his Twitter account said the mood at Arroyo's detention room was "festive" as the former president's relatives and members of her legal team gathered by her side.  Meanwhile, anti and pro-Arroyo groups held rallies outside the hospital.
Department of Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo said his agency would respect the court's decision. But he said that as of Wednesday noon, his office had not yet received a copy of the court's ruling.
Malacanang reacts
Malacanang spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III would accept the court's decision, but that it did not mean Arroyo would escape punishment.
"The fight against corruption continues. We will still go after people who have found to have plundered the nation's coffers," Lacierda said.
"This will not dampen our resolve to file and to continue to institute corruption cases against responsible officials."
He said the government would leave it up to its lawyers whether they would file an appeal or not against the granting of bail.
Satisfied
Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo is happy with the court's decision, Radyo Singko reported Wednesday.
According to the former First Gentleman, he is satisfied with the court's ruling as this paved the way for them to address his wife’s medical condition freely.
Mr. Arroyo expressed his gratitude to their family’s supporters who have been with them since the arrest of the former president in November of last year. He said that God has seen the truth and that there really is justice.
Mike said he was proud with the victory of their legal team led by lawyer Benjamin Santos. - with Romsanne R. Ortiguero and Agence France-Presse

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