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- Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo acquitted of electoral sabotage.
- The court said that the evidence were not enough to establish a conspiracy against the former President.
A Pasay court cleared House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of electoral sabotage that was filed in connection to the 2007 senatorial elections.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio confirmed that the court has granted the demurrer to the evidence filed by Arroyo in the case against her. This results to the former President being acquitted of charge.
The demurrer to evidence is a plea that cites the insufficiency of evidence. It paves the way to a dismissal of a case.
According to the Pasay City Regional Reial Court Branch 112, the prosecution “has failed to discharge its duty to prove the guilt of accused Arroyo beyond reasonable doubt, even in the absence of controverting evidence on the part of the accused.”
Former president and House speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo acquitted for electoral sabotage case, confirms her legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio. | via Ghio Ong
Posted by Philippine Star on Thursday, December 27, 2018
It also said that the Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas was the only one that mentioned Arroyo’s name and the 12 other witnesses were not able to establish any other element of conspiracy and did not even mention the former President when it comes to the crime.
Arroyo allegedly instructed former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan to rig the 2007 senatorial elections to ensure a 12-0 in her administration’s favor.
Topacio added, “With the acquittal of Speaker Arroyo, now it may be said that none of the cases filed against her by the Aquino Administration have survived judicial scrutiny. She has no more cases in court against her. Truly, the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.”
The news didn’t sit well with the netizens.
the devil works hard but gloria arroyo works harder
— anthony (@tunyooo) December 29, 2018
pasensya na pero PUTANG INANG hustisya meron sa bansang ito. naabswelto na naman itong demonyang gloria arroyo. tindi ng utang na loob sa iyo ng Du30 administration. dahil kaalyado ni Du30 si grace traPOE, bahagya lang magsalita pero mananahimik din sa huli. #UnseatPorkyArroyo
— Pinoy si Wowie (@pinoysiwowie) December 29, 2018
The tag “enemy of the state” can be an honor when said state is characterized by bloodlust and dreams of rapine and vassalhood. As it is in the time of Duterte. Gloria Arroyo’s military also called NUJP, which I then chaired, an enemy. We stood our ground. #HoldTheLine
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) December 29, 2018
Gloria Arroyo is a saint, according to Philippine judiciary. How dare we accuse her of corruption and election fraud.
— Barnaby Lo (@barnabychuck) December 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/momoshikitu/status/1079102695007432704
https://twitter.com/favoritealter/status/1079190284024479749
https://twitter.com/MaamSyj/status/1072489145652662274
How come?! Despite the taped phone call conversations, how come Arroyo got acquitted?!
— mikee mikee (@Mikee_Mikee7) December 28, 2018
Ginagwa na tayo katatawanan ng gobyerno. Si Arroyo acquitted na. Hay
— kingkeb (@iamkingkeb) December 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/aLiterarian/status/1078640137616089089
The former President was also acquitted from plunder in 2016, which was filed against her for the said questionable release of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds.
