ShareThisMANILA – A fifth plunder complaint was filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday for the alleged misuse of P325-million funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Former President Arroyo
Aside from violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Arroyo, now congresswoman of Pampanga, was also charged with malversation of public funds.
The 39-page complaint was filed by former congresswoman and current Akbayan Party-list spokesperson Risa Hontiveros, former Brigadier General Danilo Lim, and social activist Jimmy Regalario.
Arroyo’s lawyer, Raul Lambino,dismissed the plunder case as mere “publicity stunt.”
“Just like their patron in Malacanang, they resort to political propaganda over the media to advance their respective agendas by incessant shame campaign and vilification against Arroyo,” Lambino said.
Charged with Arroyo were former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte; former Chairman Reynaldo Villar of the Commission on Audit; former PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia, and former PCSO board members Jose Taruc V,Raymundo Roquero, Ma. Fatima Valdes, and Manuel Morato.
Also charged were “all persons who acted under their control, supervision, instruction or direction in relation to the crimes and misconduct stated herein.”