The Sandiganbayan has absolved a former official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) of a plunder case.
This is in connection with the alleged misuse of the agency’s P 366-million Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) from 2008 to 2010.
The anti-graft court’s First Division acquitted Former PCSO Board Member Maria Fatima Valdes by granting her demurrer to evidence.
In her pleading, Valdes said that the prosecution had presented weak evidence against her.
She also said, she also deserved the same acquittals given in April 2015 to her three co-accused, PCSO board members Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc V.
Former President Gloria Arroyo was among those charged for the same case.
The charge against Arroyo was dismissed by the Supreme Court in July last year.