Arroyo camp questions witnesses’ relevance in bail hearing
THE camp of former President Gloria Arroyo questioned the materiality and relevance of the two witnesses presented by the prosecution during Tuesday’s resumption of the hearing on her petition to fix bail before a Pasay court.
Arroyo’s legal counsel, Ray Montri Santos, said witnesses presented by the prosecution before the sala of Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas have no knowledge on the alleged tampering of votes in Maguindanao in the 2007 senatorial election.
The former president and her co-accused, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol are facing charges of poll sabotage.
Prosecutor Ma. Juana Valeza presented Commission on Elections (Comelec) employees Juan Vergel Soriano of the records section and Retzie Villena of the human resource management office during the bail hearing to identify election documents purportedly showing the tampering of votes.
Soriano is the custodian of the election documents allegedly relating to the case while Villena was the one who allegedly received the ballot box containing the certificate of canvass from Maguindanao.
At the start of the hearing, Santos’s and Bedol’s lawyer, Reynaldo Princesa, agreed to stipulate on merely the existence of the election documents to be identified by Soriano as he had no personal knowledge on the preparation thereof but they later posed objections when Valeza began asking him about the contents of documents showing the voter turnout in Maguindanao in the elections of 2004, 2007 and 2008.
The defense counsels argued that Valeza could not ask questions about matters not covered by the cross-examination and that was not part of the stipulation.
The court, however, allowed Valeza to ask questions relating to the contents of the documents.
Villena for her part testified that she was part of the reception committee that received the ballot box purportedly containing the Certificate of Canvass (COC) from Maguindanao from acting election officer Christina Roan Manara.
However, the defense questioned the documentary evidence showing such receipt did not show that a ballot box was actually turned over by Manara with Princesa saying that Villena submitted a “wrong certification” because it showed receipt of neither the ballot box nor the certificate of canvass as certified therein.
On cross-examination by Princesa both witnesses admitted that they have no knowledge of any tampering of votes in Maguindanao as alleged by the Comelec.
For his part, Santos said the testimonies of Soriano and Villena did not prove anything with respect to the tampering as they had no personal knowledge on the allegations raised against the accused in the case.
The defense lawyers also scored the Comelec for presenting corroborating witnesses before presenting the principal witnesses as the usual trial practice. They said the prosecution should go directly to the allegations since what is being heard is merely the petitions for bail.
Earlier, the prosecution said they intend to submit a total of 249 evidentiary exhibits and 42 witnesses though Valeza said they may dispense with the presentation of the other witnesses if the defense would be willing to stipulate on their testimonies, a fact that the defense said they cannot agree without them being able to see the evidence first.
In a related development, Ampatuan’s lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, said his client would also join the bail hearings of her co-accused.
All of the accused argued they should be allowed to post bail since the government’s witness against them is weak, with the former chief executive saying the case against her hinged on the lone testimony of former Maguindanao provincial administrator Nurie Unas.
Election sabotage is a non-bailable offense, especially if the case against the accused is strong. (AH/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/27/arroyo-camp-questions-witnesses-relevance-bail-hearing-213439
Residents or Manila travel out of town to head north to Pampanga to relax, unwind and spend a few nights in the new hotel rooms situated right on the lake of Clearwater Resort in Clark Airbase. Many visitors and tourists enjoy the feeling of waking up by the lake. The sunrise produces a spectacular sight with the sunlight reflection on the calm surface of the three-hectare fresh water lake of this famous resort in Clark.
Families with small children prefer outdoor hotel in Manila, clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind. Outdoor space is an important criterion affecting the selection of a suitable hotel in Clark Pampanga for family bonding or to relax and unwind with friends. Best hotel in Clark Pampanga offers good outdoor facilities, large picnic grounds, lake and beach and other outdoor amenities making it possible for guests of this frequently visited hotel in Clark to relax and unwind with no stress.
The safest getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga, great for family bonding, hang out to unwind and relax near lake and trees, camping too.
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.
When in Clark, make plans to relax and enjoy an evening at The London Pub located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Pampanga. This highly recommended resto bar where all the local executives of Pampanga, local and foreign tourists visiting Angeles City, Subic and Clark Philippines gather after a full day of fun or work.
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
The London Pub is a very popular resto bar for residents, tourists, business executives and visitors from Manila to hang out, drink, relax and unwind after work or a game of golf during the day. Fine English cuisine, family comfort food is served. It is also very famous for the best fish n chips in the Philippines.
http://www.LondonPubClark.com
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
Yats International Leisure Philippines
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.
Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.
Random
Search
Contact Clark Philippines
Delectable Executive Meals
Philippine Peso Exchange Rate