MANILA (Mindanao / Oct. 4, 2012) – Philippine authorities arrested former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo on plunder charges, state media reported Thursday.
The criminal charges stemmed from a fund scam which involved P365 million allegedly taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Policemen served Arroyo’s warrant in the hospital where the former leader is staying.
“With the collective efforts of my colleagues in the Senate for the completion of the Blue Ribbon Report that we submitted to the Office of Ombudsman last December 2011, this case should be a strong warning against those who are mishandling the peoples’ money,” said Senator Teofisto Guingona III in a statement.
“One can never escape the wheels of justice. We must remember that Mrs. Arroyo has never denied her participation in the approval of huge amounts of money on this case. Her marginal notes of approval are on record, clearly affirmed and testified to by Rosario Uriarte, former General Manager of the PCSO,” he said.
Arroyo’s seven-year administration was filled with corruption scandals and anomalies and the website http://arroyocorruption.pbworks.com listed some of them:
1. NBN ZTE Scandal
2. Millions of bribe money to Congressmen and Governors (October 2007)
3. Cheating in 2004 Elections (Hello Garci)
4. Joc Joc Bolante Case (Fertilizer Scam, P728 Million)
5. Jose Pidal Bank Account (Unexplained Wealth, P200 Million)
6. Nani Perez Power Plant Deal ($2 Million)
7. Use of Road User’s Tax for Campaigning
8. Billion Peso Macapagal Boulevard (Overprice of P532 Million)
9. Juetengate (Illegal Numbers game kickbacks)
10. Extra Judicial Killings
11. Arroyo Moneys in Germany
12. General Garcia and Other Military Men
13. Billion Peso Poll Automation contract (P1.3 Billion)
14. Northrail Project ($503 Million)
15. Maguindanao Results of 2007 Elections
16. NAIA-3
17. Venable Contract (Norberto Gonzales)
18. Swine Scam (Exposed by Atty. Harry Roque)
19. P432-million fertilizer deal in 2003
Arroyo denied all the accusations against her. (Mindanao Examiner)
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