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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) vs. People of the Philippines [SEPARATE CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION, PERLAS-BERNABE, J.]

G.R. No. 220598 GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, Petitioner versus PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE SANDIGANBAYAN (First Division), Respondents G.R. No. 220953 BENIGNO B. AGUAS, Petitioner, versus, SANDIGANBAYAN (First Division), Respondent.

G.R. No. 220598 and G.R. No. 220953 | 2016-07-19

SEPARATE CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION

PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:

The primordial issue in this case is whether or not respondent the Sandiganbayan gravely abused its discretion in denying the demurrers to evidence of petitioners Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Arroyo) and Benigno B. Aguas (Aguas).

The instant petitions stemmed from an Information[1] charging Arroyo and Aguas (petitioners), along several others, of the crime of Plunder, defined by and penalized under Section 2 of Republic Act No. (RA) 7080[2] or the "Plunder Law," as amended by RA 7659,[3] filed before the Sandiganbayan and docketed as Criminal Case No....