Ombudsman appeals GMA acquittal in ZTE graft case

Ombudsman prosecutors have asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its junking of graft cases against former pres- ident and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr. in connection with the anomalous national broadband network ( NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

Government lawyers said the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division should reverse its ruling granting the demurer to evidence filed by the accused, which led to the dismissal of the cases against them last month.

The prosecution insisted it was able to prove that the NBN deal between the government and ZTE Corp. was anomalous and disadvantageous to taxpayers.

Furthermore, evidence presented also showed other irregularities like the alleged bribe try against former National Economic and Development Authority ( NEDA) director general Romulo Neri, ombudsman prosecutors said.

“Even without the attachments or the annexes to the NBN-ZTE contract, it is not difficult to see the glaring fact that the same is grossly disadvantageous,” they stressed.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the dismissal of all graft cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against the Arroyo couple and Abalos, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove its accusations halfway through the trial.

Magistrates granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the accused, noting that the $329-million contract was actually cancelled and that conspiracy among the respondents was not established in the evidence presented by the prosecution.