GMA does not want jailers to suffer same fate

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo does not want her jailers to suffer the same ordeal she is going through when they are no longer in power.   

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said the Pampanga lawmaker spoke about the possibility of Aquino administration officials being prosecuted and jailed after 2016, when he visited her at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, along with some friends and colleagues from the House of Representatives over the weekend.

One of their colleagues in the independent bloc in the House joked that she would soon be released, and those who repeatedly blocked her bail petition, as well as other administration officials would be taking her place at the VMMC, he added.

The visitors burst into laughter when one of the unnamed lawmakers joked: “Ma’am, you should start packing your things because there’ll be many of them (administration) who will stay here.” 

Arroyo, who turns 68 on April 5, did not smile and sternly told them that she would not wish anybody to experience what she is going through now, he said.

“I don’t want any of you, or anyone, to suffer the same sad, tragic and painful experience,” Atienza quoted Arroyo as telling them.

“I hope and pray that none of them will replace me here in this detention.”

Speaking to reporters, Atienza said Arroyo is truly a Christian and a stateswoman.

He felt Arroyo was sincere when she told them that she harbors no ill will on officials of the Aquino administration, he added.

International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, wife of actor George Clooney, has filed a complaint before the United Nations Human Rights Committee against President Aquino for persecuting Arroyo, and keeping her under detention and barring her from using any form of communication.

Clooney said she believed the Sandiganbayan and other agencies are being pressured into denying bail to Arroyo.

Arroyo, afflicted with a degenerative bone disease, is detained at the VMMC on plunder charges for allegedly conspiring to pocket P366 million in funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office along with several former PCSO officials.

Her lawyers insist that she is innocent and have repeatedly questioned the move of the Sandiganbayan to deny her bail despite the weak evidence against her, when her five co-accused were allowed temporary liberty.

Pending in Congress is House Resolution 1908, principally authored by 1-BAP Rep. Silvestre Bello, urging the Sandiganbayan to grant Arroyo house arrest.

“The purpose of denying bail is to ensure the presence of the  accused in the trial and that he or she is properly penalized,” Bello said.

“But considering her physical condition, where is she going to go? Her doctors said that aside from physical illness, she is suffering from psychosomatic complications and that house arrest might be good for her because of moral support from her family.” 

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, reiterated the call of the House to release Arroyo on bail or place her under house arrest.

Former lawmaker Danilo Suarez said proposals have been made to place Arroyo under house arrest at her residence Pampanga.

It would be better if she is restricted in her residence in Quezon City so she could be near hospitals, he added.

Some sectors have repeatedly warned that Aquino might suffer the same fate for various alleged misdeeds, including the implementation of the unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program, as well as for some actions related to the Mamasapano debacle.