GMA, Uriarte hard to pin down for plunder over PCSO mess By Angie M. Rosales 07/11/2011

SOLON: MOST WOULD BE MALVERSATION OF FUNDS RAPS

GMA, Uriarte hard to pin down for plunder over PCSO mess

By Angie M. Rosales 07/11/2011

Pursuing plunder charges against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo along with her alleged close associate, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) vice chairman and general manager Rosario Uriarte, will be futile due to lack of evidence despite the supposed exposés on the misuse of funds made by officials appointed by President Aquino in the state lottery agency and the most that can be levelled against both is malversation of public funds.

Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday pointed out the apparent lack of evidence to prove “personal gains” on the part of Arroyo and Uriarte in the use of the charity funds of PCSO, the total of which allegedly amounted to P325 million.

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen.Teofisto Guingona III had raised the possibility of filing plunder charges against Arroyo and Uriarte since the alleged diverted PCSO funds totaled more than P50 million but Escudero said that exceeding the amount does not automatically result in a plunder case..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110711hed1.html