Palace exec: Let Comelec handle poll sabotage case vs Gloria Arroyo

Pursuing the electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not the sole priority of the Aquino administration, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.

 

At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Commission on Elections is in charge of the case and expects the poll body to handle the job properly.

 

“Comelec po ang nagfile [nung case,] Comelec is prosecuting it so we expect Comelec to handle the job properly. It’s an election sabotage case. We have other things to do which are also a priority for us,” Lacierda said.

 

“It is primarily an election related case and therefore the agency tasked to ensure the success of prosecution of that case is ]the] Comelec,” he added.

 

Asked if Malacañang was dismayed with the Pasay court’s granting of former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr’s bail petition, Lacierda said they respect the decision of the judge. 

 

“We don’t have the details of the case. And we do not ask updates from the Comelec because it is an independent constitutional office,” he said.

 

On the possibility of Mrs. Arroyo being granted the same privilege, Lacierda said the Comelec should be prepared to handle that.

 

He added that Comelec has its prosecutors and the agency is more capable of handling election-related cases.

 

Mrs. Arroyo and Abalos, together with other officials, were charged with electoral sabotage in connection with alleged fraud during the 2007 midterm elections.

 

Mrs. Arroyo is also facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News