MANILA (Updated) — Critics of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo blamed the current administration for filing a “rushed” complaint that allowed her to escape accountability on the alleged manipulation of the 2007 midterm election results.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy Casiño said Arroyo’s release from hospital detention is a “big slap on the face” of President Benigno Aquino III who boasted the administration’s efforts to hold Arroyo accountable just two days ago in his third State of the Nation Address.
After eight months at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), Arroyo was released from hospital detention on Wednesday following the decision of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 112 to grant the former President’s petition for bail.
The former leader, who is facing an electoral sabotage charge in connection with the alleged fraud in the 2007 senatorial elections, immediately posted a P1-million bail and headed home to La Vista subdivision in Quezon City.
Arroyo’s fellow accused in the case filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are former poll chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol.
“The court decision was made apparently because the government’s complaint of electoral sabotage was rushed, owing to its failure to build up any of the major cases filed earlier by various citizens’ groups,” Casiño said.
Representative Neri Colmenares, also of Bayan Muna, said the Aquino administration should be “serious” in prosecuting its cases filed against Arroyo, and in protecting its witnesses.
MANILA. Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo, accompanied by family members and security personnel, walks toward a vehicle that will bring her to La Vista Village in Quezon City after she was released from hospital detention Wednesday. (Contributed photo)
For his part, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio urged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to expedite the cases lodged before her office against the former President.
“The ball is now in her court,” he said in a text message.
Leaders of the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in Pampanga also expressed their outraged over the RTC’s decision.
In a joint press statement, Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap and Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France said the decision is an indication that President Benigno Aquino III is ready to “forgive and forget” the former President for her crimes against the Filipino people.
Progressive groups in Davao also blamed the Aquino government for being incompetent following the temporary liberty of Arroyo.
“It’s supposed to be non-bailable but it seems like the Aquino government is giving Arroyo an easy way out. Aquino is incompetent in jailing Arroyo and giving justice for all victims of injustices. It’s an added insult to injury. So much for Sona rhetoric,” said Sheena Duazo, Bayan regional spokesperson.
Cherry Orendain, Anakbayan regional spokesperson, said Aquino prided his administration for ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona for corruption case, yet he cannot prosecute Arroyo who committed thousands of human rights violations, plunder and election fraud.
Akbayan chairperson Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, called on the Sandiganbayan to issue a warrant of arrest against Arroyo in connection with the plunder charge filed against her and several others.
The Ombudsman last week filed a plunder complaint against Arroyo and nine others over the allege misuse of intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Hontiveros said the Sandiganbayan already deemed the case has probable cause when it issued a hold departure order against Arroyo Tuesday.
“The plunder case has probable cause. It is rock-solid. It won’t take long for Arroyo to realize that she has simply jumped from the frying pan and into the fire. The Sandiganbayan has no reason not to issue a warrant of arrest against Arroyo,” she said in a press statement.
Arroyo’s spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn, meanwhile, appealed to the public to allow the former President “to enjoy some precious moments with her family for the meantime.”
“She is not yet out of danger and still needs close medical attention and supervision,” Horn said.
“Let us be considerate enough to give her the chance to make up for lost time with her children and grandchildren and let us help her to continue and support her recuperation from her ailment. We wish to convey her appreciation to all those who supported her during these trying times,” she added.
On Thursday, Arroyo is scheduled to check into an alternative medicine facility in Tagaytay City and will stay there until the weekend.
She will resume her four times a week physical therapy session at the VMMC next week, Horn said.
‘Buckle down to work’
Allies of the former President in the House of Representatives urged her to attend to her duties as representative of Pampanga after she was released from hospital detention Wednesday.
“She should show her presence here because she’s still a member of the House,” Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano, a member of the House minority bloc, said in a press conference.
The second district representative of Pampanga has been unable to attend plenary sessions for a year. Before her arrest, she was confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City. She had already undergone three cervical spine surgeries.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said that while he can sense discomfort on the part of the former President, it’s still her job to attend to plenary sessions and House committee hearings.
“She would be an asset especially in the budget hearings because of her expertise,” Suarez said.
The House committee on appropriations will start deliberations on the proposed 2013 national budget next month.
Arroyo’s allies also urged the former President’s critics to respect the decision of the court.
“They’re mistaken to think that she (Arroyo) will flee the country. There’s no issue in her going abroad,” Suarez said.
‘Fight’s not over yet’
The Comelec, which filed the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo, said its fight against the former Chief Executive is not over yet.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the commission will not easily give up on the case as it is set to file a motion for reconsideration before the Pasay City RTC.
“We will likely file a motion for reconsideration if we are still allowed since the decision is immediate and executory,” said Brillantes in a phone interview.
Brillantes admitted that the decision caught the commission by surprise, especially considering the developments in the case.
“We cannot understand the decision. Arroyo never presented any evidence in the bail hearing. She did not present anything. She did not even responded or rebutted our witnesses’ claims. I really cannot understand Judge Mupas,” said the Comelec chair.
Brillantes and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will meet Thursday to discuss possible legal remedies still available to government lawyers to reverse the ruling of the Pasay RTC to grant bail to Arroyo.
De Lima admitted she was baffled by the Pasay RTC’s decision to allow the temporary freedom of Arroyo.
“Kung granted ang bail. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyan (If the bail is granted. It means only one thing) – the judge was not convinced that the evidence was strong, but of course we disagree,” she said, noting that election sabotage is supposed to be a non-bailable offense.
She insisted that the testimony of lone prosecution witness Norie Unas, the former provincial administrator of Maguindanao was sufficient to prove Arroyo’s guilt.
Meantime, Senator Francis Pangilinan said the public should not worry about Arroyo’s temporary freedom because she still has other cases that stop her from leaving the country without court blessing.
“We have to respect the decision of the court. What is important is that the Sandiganbayan has issued a hold departure order (on Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund scam) to avoid easy flight. It is important that she will be able to face the accusations,” he said.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III, on the hand, believed that Arroyo will not be able to post bail in the PCSO case because the allegation against her is “very strong.”
Guingona said the former President herself has not denied participation in the release of huge amount of money in the guise of intelligence funds.
“Her marginal notes of approval are on record, clearly affirmed and testified to by Rosario Uriarte, former general manager of the PCSO,” he said.
For Senator Francis Escudero, the decision only proves that the Aquino administration has no plans of controlling the judiciary, contrary to claims by the Arroyo camp.
Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile said even in capital offenses like murder and rape, the judge grants the bail petition due to weak evidence at that time.
“That does not mean she will be acquitted. It’s possible that in the course of the trial, they (Comelec) will be able to strengthen their evidence,” he said.
Electoral sabotage case
The following events took place before Judge Mupas allowed on Wednesday former President Arroyo to jump bail for a supposedly non-bailable electoral sabotage case:
November 18, 2011 (morning) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed poll sabotage charges against Arroyo, ex-Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol in the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 112.
November 18, 2011 (afternoon) – The Pasay RTC under Judge Jesus Mupas has issued an arrest warrant against the four accused. The arrest warrant was served at her hospital room at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.
November 25, 2011 – Arroyo’s doctors at the St. Luke’s in Taguig appeared before the court to explain Arroyo’s medical condition.
December 9, 2011 – Arroyo was transferred to the VMMC in Quezon City.
December 26, 2011 – The Pampanga lawmaker filed a petition for bail.
February 23, 2012 – The former President pleaded “not guilty” to the electoral sabotage filed against her during her arraignment.
March 15, 2012 – The Pasay RTC started hearing Arroyo’s petition for bail.
May 31, 2012 – Comelec’s witness, former Pandag, Maguindanao, election officer Russam Mabang, was reportedly missing. It was later on found out that he was hiding in his relative’s place.
June 14, 2012 – Comelec’s star witness, former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, offered testimony against Arroyo. Unas claims he heard the former President instruct Ampatuan to ensure a 12-0 victory for the administration slate in Maguindanao. Arroyo’s lawyers dismissed Unas’s testimony as hearsay.
Arroyo is facing separate graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal and the PCSO fund scam, respectively.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/07/25/arroyo-critics-slam-govt-filing-rushed-complaint-234029
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