De Lima: Arroyo arraignment on NBN-ZTE deal a 'positive development'

"Tuluy-tuloy na ang process and this means the case is  moving," De Lima told reporters in a chance interiview. De Lima had served as chairperson of the Commission of Human Righst during the Arroyo administration.

 

The charges against Mrs. Arroyo, who now represents the second legislative district of Pampanga in the House of Representatives, were filed against her in connection broadband project entered into by the government with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. during her presidency.

 

The Justice chief expressed hopes that the anti-graft court would be able to come up with a "verdict in due time."

 

Aside from the graft charges, Mrs. Arroyo also pleaded not guilty to her alleged violation of the provision on Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials).

 

The charges were filed late last year by the Office of the Ombudsman for Mrs. Arroyo’s alleged hand in the approval of the NBN-ZTE contract, despite being “fully aware” of the irregularities in the deal. 

 

Her co-accused and husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and former Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

The arraignment of a fourth accused, former Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, was postponed to May 14 since he was still recovering from stroke.

 

Mrs. Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for separate charges of electoral sabotage in connection with the 2007 mid-term polls. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News