Gloria Arroyo cleared due to lack of evidence

Manila: Former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo and her congressman son have been cleared of corruption charges linked to the infrastructure project worth P1.86 billion (Dh155 million) in southern Luzon.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the evidence presented in the case did not warrant the filing of criminal complaints against the former president and her son Congressman Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo in connection with the building of a P700 million (Dh58.3 million) dam project in Libmanan and Cabudao in the Bicol region, and the P1.16 billion (Dh96.6 million) elevated highway project, also in Camarines.

The complaint must be terminated and should not be elevated to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, Morales said.

Complainants claimed before the Ombudsman in 2013 that subordinates at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the public works and highways department were fronts for Arroyo and her son.

The Arroyos did not participate in the planning and implementing the projects of the local government unit of Camarines, Morales said, adding the funding for the dam and elevated highway did not come from the social development fund of Congressman Arroyo.

The projects were funded by private groups that took advantage of the government’s build-operate and transfer investment scheme, said Morales.

Arroyo was placed under hospital arrest at the start of the administration of President Benigno Aquino in 2010, following plunder charges that were filed against her.