What the dismissal proves

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The announcement that the Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the complaint filed against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her son, Camarines Norte Congressman Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo for one of the plunder charges against them should reassure the people that the perception of this administration being bent on condemning the Arroyos is not true.

The former president and her son were cleared of plunder, graft and corruption charges in connection with the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam And Skybridge 1 and 2 projects in Camarines Sur.

The Ombudsman, in her resolution dismissing the charges, cited the recommendation of a field investigator of her office that the evidence gathered does not warrant the initiation of criminal proceedings.

The findings also showed that there was no evidence to prove that the mother and son, she as president, and he as congressman of the benefited local government unit, had acquired ill-gotten wealth from it.

Those who filed the complaint had claimed that the Arroyos had received directly or through their subordinates, at least P50 million from the project. Incidentally, the project that cost P700 million, had been awarded to a contractor but was suspended later because of strong opposition from residents who claimed that it would cause flooding in the area.

The decision on this underscores the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman does look closely and deliberates on the cases filed at her office and that political intervention, as suspected by some, is not a factor in the resolution of such charges.*