Another Arroyo co-accused in PCSO plunder case acquitted

Another co-accused of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) plunder case has been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan.

In a 44-page resolution, the anti-graft court acquitted Ma. Fatima Valdes, former PCSO Board of Directors member, in the case that stemmed from the alleged misuse of the PCSO's intelligence funds during the term of Arroyo as president.

The Sandiganbayan First Division, in the resolution promulgated on March 30, granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Valdes, effectively dismissing her case.

In dismissing her case, the court cited its April 6, 2015 resolution granting the demurrers to evidence of the other co-accused, namely PCSO board members Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc V.

"Considering that accused Valdes, Morato, Roquero and Taruc were all members of the Board of Directors of the PCSO and are similarly charged of the same offense, and considering further that accused Morato, Roquero and Taruc had been acquitted in this case, the Court has no choice but to acquit accused Valdes as well," the resolution read.

The court had earlier ruled that Morato, Taruc and Roquero had no access or made expenditures in the PCSO's confidential and intelligence funds.

"There is no evidence that the accused directors were privy to any of [former PCSO General Manager Rosario] Uriarte's requests or in the utilization of the additional funds given to her office," the court said.

With no conspiracy between these directors, the court said they cannot be held liable for plunder.

"Simply put, there is no sufficient evidence on record that the directors herein had diverted any PCSO funds to themselves, that they raided the public treasury by conveying and transferring into their possession and control any money or funds from PCSO account and, therefore, these demurrers must be granted," it said.

"Wherefore, in light of the foregoing, accused Ma. Fatima Valdes' Demurrer to Evidence is hereby granted, and accused Valdes is hereby acquitted of the offense charged herein," it added.

Aside from the acquitting Valdes, the court has also ordered the hold departure order against her lifted and her bail bond released.

The Supreme Court last year cleared Arroyo from the case. —KBK, GMA News