The 3 accused were arraigned before Judge Gregory Ong of the anti-graft court’s fourth division at 8:30 a.m.
The former president likewise entered a not guilty plea to a charge of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The Office of the Ombudsman earlier declared the cancelled NBN deal overpriced, and anti-graft prosecutors filed the charges against the Arroyos and her co-accused last December.
Former Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who is a co-accused in the case, did not attend the arraignment as he has yet to recover from a stroke at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.
Mendoza’s lawyer, Atty. Alexander Poblador, asked the court to move his client’s arraignment to May 14.
The court agreed not to require Arroyo and Abalos to attend the pre-trial conference on June 4.
Arroyo and Abalos are currently detained for allegedly participating in the rigging of the 2007 senatorial elections.
Herpes zoster
Arroyo's lawyer, Laurence Arroyo, said the former president was diagnosed with shingles (herpes zoster) but still insisted to attend the arraignment today.
"She was diagnosed with shingles, which is something akin to chickenpox. She was advised by her doctors not to attend the arraignment but she insisted...She wanted to face squarely the charges against her and get the trial going," Arroyo told Mornings@ANC.
He added: "Her doctors told us it is because of her weak immune system that she developed this illness, which is a bit infectious."
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
The lawyer said Mrs. Arroyo will need to stay longer at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to recover from the illness as well as problems with her spine.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment