Palace welcomes malversation rap vs Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon welcomed the Department of Justice’s recommendation of malversation raps against former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several others in connection with the alleged misuse of more than P500 million in migrant worker’ welfare fund during her term.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed no disappointment that the DOJ panel that handled the complaint for plunder filed by former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez only found probable cause to charge Arroyo with technical malversation.

“We will rely on the assessment of the Department of Justice, the prosecutors who are reviewing the case,” Lacierda said during the day’s news briefing in Malacañang.

“It would not do us any good if we file a case which will not merit us a conviction. We would rather have a case that would secure us a conviction based on the evidences submitted and based on the review of the Department of Justice,” he added.