- Petitioner
- Macapagal-Arroyo
- Respondent
- People
- Citation
- G.R. Nos. 220598 & 220953
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Decided
- 2016-07-19
- Disposition
- Demurrers granted
Demurrer to evidence; the 'main plunderer' requirement
Summary
The Supreme Court En Banc denied the State's motion for reconsideration of its July 19, 2016 decision dismissing plunder charges against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and PCSO official Benigno Aguas. The Court reaffirmed that the prosecution failed to establish the corpus delicti of plunder under RA 7080, particularly the identification of the main plunderer and personal benefit requirement for 'raids on public treasury.' The Court held that granting the motion would violate the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy since the dismissal for insufficiency of evidence constituted an acquittal. The resolution clarified that certiorari was the proper remedy to review the Sandiganbayan's denial of demurrer to evidence when tainted with grave abuse of discretion, notwithstanding Rule 119, Section 23 restrictions.