The prosecution also countered the court’s decision that there was no need for public bidding because the Chinese government would fund the NBN project. Another evidence ZTE was given undue advantage was the fact that the proposals of another bidder Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) and other American firms were ignored in the bidding process. The prosecution said that the anomalies in the NBN-ZTE contract could not be justified by the lack of annexes in the contract. “Wherefore, in its entirety, the evidence adduced by the prosecution … did not sufficiently prove the guilt of accused Ma. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and this court hereby grants accused’s demurrer to evidence,” the court said in its ruling.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 10, 2016 01:52 UTC