The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Rosario Uriarte, who was the remaining accused in the P366-million plunder case involving Arroyo administration officials, leaving no respondent left in the case.
The anti-graft court’s First Division said the Ombudsman failed to present new evidence against Uriarte.
Uriarte is the sole co-accused of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Arroyo was removed from the list of accused by the Supreme Court last year.
The SC found insufficient evidence to charge Arroyo and her co-accused of the non-bailable offense.
The high court ruling, however, came long in coming as Arroyo has already been detained for more than five years when it was issued.
“The prosecution has not adduced any new or compelling evidence to warrant a finding different from what has already been rendered by the Supreme Court,” the Sandiganbayan said in its May 11 decision.
“Thus, as the High Tribunal categorically cleared Uriarte of culpability from the instant charge of plunder, it behooves this Court to acquit her,” it added.
The anti-graft court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against Uriarte and the cancellation of her bail bond.
In 2016, the SC dismissed the plunder case against Arroyo and former PCSO Budget and Accounts manager Benigno Aguas due to weak evidence presented by the Ombudsman.
The SC ruled the charges against Arroyo were “unwarranted” and “unsustainable,” adding that the prosecution failed to prove that she was the “main plunderer” in the case.
The Court added the prosecution “did not properly allege and prove the existence of conspiracy among Arroyo, Aguas and Uriarte.”
The Sandiganbayan had acquitted former PCSO chairman Reynaldo Villar; former PCSO Board chairman Sergio Valencia; former Board members Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc V, Raymundo Roquero, Ma. Fatima Valdes; and former Commission on Audit Intelligence Fund Fraud Audit Unit chief Nilda Plaras, who were charged with Arroyo and Uriarte, in separate decisions.