Arroyo faces charge of obstructing key witness

Manila: President Gloria Arroyo and 14 other government officials have been charged with obstruction of justice for their alleged efforts to stop a witness from testifying during the Senate inquiry into the botched broadband deal.

In a radio dzMM report, lawyer Romeo Capulong of the Public Interest Law Centre said the respondents had allegedly conspired to prevent former government official Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr from appearing before the Senate.

Besides Arroyo, the other respondents facing charges of obstruction of justice are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Manuel Gaite and his aide Marcelino Agana IV.

Also charged were Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr, Police Security and Protection Office's Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen and Senior Superintendent Paul Mascarinas, Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Remedios Poblador, the Aviation Security Group's Roger Valeroso, Angel Atutubo and Octaviano Lina, former environment secretary Michael "Mike" Defensor, and lawyer Antonio Bautista.

Presidential immunity

Capulong said that although Arroyo could not be suspended by the Ombudsman pending the investigation, other high ranking government officials did not enjoy the same immunity.

Capulong said his group believed that Arroyo and her officials had acted illegally in the Lozada incident.