MANILA - The trial of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and his co-accused over the alleged anomalous sale of second-hand choppers to the Philippine National Police in 2009 should proceed, an anti-graft court has ordered.

In a resolution dated Jan. 30, 2020, the Sandiganbayan 7th Division, chaired by Judge Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, junked the motions for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence filed by the 12 accused for lack of merit.

The court stated that there appears to be sufficient evidence, which necessitates the presentation of evidence from the defense.

The demurrer to evidence is usually filed by accused individuals for an outright dismissal of the case if they believe that the prosecution was not able to present sufficient evidence against them.

“The most cost-effective and expeditious way to do this is to proceed to trial, unabated by any other motions,” the resolution said. Gomez-Estoesta penned the order, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Georgina Hidalgo.

The court noted that Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, simply reiterated in his position that the prosecution was not able to prove his ownership of the subject helicopters as well as his supposed connivance with the public officials involved.

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For his part, former national police chief Jesus Verzosa stressed that he merely signed procurement documents, and there was no showing he participated in biddings, as well as his supposed knowledge of any irregularity in the procurement of the choppers.

The prosecution however maintained that the arguments were already addressed in their consolidated opposition.

“At this instance, the assertions of private accused Arroyo cannot defeat, without controverting evidence on his part, the evidence mostly presented against him, among others, by prosecution witnesses Archibald Po, Renato Sia and Editha Solano Juguan,” the court said.