STATEMENT OF SEN GUINGONA ON THE ISSUANCE
OF ARREST WARRANT VS GMA

One can never escape the wheels of justice. The release of arrest warrant against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for plunder charges in relation to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) fund scam only proves that the evidences presented in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Report on the PCSO fund scam are strong, concrete and sufficient.

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.

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.

The former president herself has not denied her participation in the release of huge funds of money in the guise of intelligence funds. In Section 13 of our Bill of Rights, when evidence of guilt is strong in offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua, bail cannot be granted.

Likewise, I enjoined the Sandiganbayan to issue a hold departure order against Mrs Arroyo. It has been proven in several occasions that Mrs. Arroyo has a penchant to invent reasons to justify her grand plan to leave the country and escape prosecution for her crimes.

I am hoping that the truth will come out and the justice be served immediately. In order for the Filipinos to move forward, it is only fitting that we correct the mistakes of the past.