Gloria Arroyo under arrest
MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) - Police served on Friday night the arrest warrant for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued by a Pasay trial court judge who found probable cause against her for electoral sabotage.
The warrant was served inside her room at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City where she is confined.
"Katatapos lang po namin i-serve," said Senior Superintendent James Bucayu.
Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, their family, and some members of the former Arroyo Cabinet were present during the serving of the arrest warrant, according to police.
The Pampanga lawmaker will not be brought out of the hospital as of Friday night because of her illness, Bucayu said. "Hindi po siya dadalhin, because of her physical condition. May sakit nga po siya."
She is now considered under the custody of the Southern Police District, he added. "Under na po siya ng Southern Police District. Nag-iwan na po kami ng guwardiya sa taas."
Policemen have been stationed outside her room and in key areas of the hospital, Bucayu said.
He said they coordinated with Arroyo's lawyer, who waived off the reading of her rights.
"Si Atty. [Jose] Flaminiano ang nag- receive ng warrant of arrest," the police official said. "Binasa sana namin ang kaniyang rights, ayaw."
Arroyo will not be brought out of the hospital and her formal booking, which includes fingerprinting, will be done at the hospital Saturday.
"Tomorrow, the booking, kasi medyo stressed pa siya. Para naman convenient para sa kaniya," Bucayu said, adding that Arroyo will be detained at the SPD when she is well enough to leave the hospital.
"Depende po sa sasabihin ng kaniyang doctor, kung puwede na siyang... gumaling na siya at puwede na siyang maglakad. Pero ngayon hindi pa possible," he said.
Bucayu said that the former President's family may just provide a photo for her mugshot.
"Inne-expect naman niya yata na a warrant of arrest will be issued against her. Hindi naman siya malungkot. Okay naman siya," he added.
Electoral sabotage
Arroyo, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol were charged with electoral sabotage by the Commission Elections (Comelec) on Friday morning.
It is a nonbailable offense under Philippine law.
Pasay RTC 112 Judge Jesus Mupas issued the arrest warrants for the trio later in the day.
Police also served in Bicutan the arrest warrant against Ampatuan and on Bedol in Camp Crame.
Arroyo has cancelled her plans to travel to Singapore for a doctor's appointment that was set on Saturday.
Ampatuan is detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in connection with the Maguindanao massacre. Bedol is also under detention.
In a press conference in Malacañang, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that with the issuance of the arrest warrant, the issue of the Supreme Court's temporary restraining order (TRO) allowing the Arroyos to leave in the country "has become moot and academic."
Arroyo's camp, however, asked the Pasay RTC to suspend its proceedings on the electoral sabotage case filed against her, saying the Sandiganbayan, and not the lower court, should have jurisdiction over the case.
The motion filed by her lawyers said the anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan, should have jurisdiction over the case because Arroyo was a public official when the alleged crimes were committed.
Arroyo rues government treatment
Arroyo's legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, told Bandila that he was the one who relayed to the former President that she had an arrest warrant.
"Siya'y nakahiga at nagpapahinga, dahil mahina ang kaniyang katawan at naka-dextrose siya. Sinabi ko kaagad sa kaniya na 'Ma'am, meron na ho talagang confirmed, meron nang warrant of arrest at patungo na rito iyung arresting officers.' This was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon," he said.
"Sinabi niya sa akin, 'Well, what can we do, Raul? This is the way the government would like to treat us. So we'll face the judges,'" Lambino added.
He said Arroyo remained in poor health Friday. "Malungkot siya at fluctuating iyung blood pressure niya kanina. Noong umalis ako ng St. Lukes, around 9:30 (pm), medyo kalmado na rin siya. Nakita ko eh medyo sumubo ng kaunting pagkain. At masaya na rin ako nang makita ko siyang kumain bago ako pumunta rito."
"Naka-brace siya. Mas lalo siyang pumayat. Siyempre sa stress, hindi siya nakakatulog at nakakakain. Ang nandodoon lang si Congressman Dato at si former first gentleman Mike. Mikey left laft night. Si Luli is already out of the country, alam ko," he added.
Lambino said Arroyo decided to call off their scheduled flight Friday to Singapore because she is still ill. "The flight I think, was cancelled earlier, dahil sa kalagayan niya. Around 2 pm, sinabi niya that I cannot leave even if I want to. Mayroon nang desisyon ang Supreme Court noon. Tinanong namin, sinabi niya, I cannot."
He said the Arroyo camp expected the government to rush the electoral sabotage charge. "We know that the government will try to ram into our throat this electoral sabotage. Ito iyung sinabi na ni Presidente Aquino around 2 months ago na mayroon nang makakasuhan sa November ng kaso na maaring 'di punder. We know already... ineexpect namin na gagawin iyan ng government."
Lambino also denied that Arroyo's camp ignored the joint Comelec and DOJ fact-finding team that looked at the allegation against the former leader. He said the team did not allow Arroyo to properly give her side. "Sa normal preliminary investigation, binibigyan ka ng panahon na pag-aralan ng charges."
He said they were only given 10 days to analyze voluminous documents. He also asked why the fact-finding team is also behind the preliminary investigation.
Lambino said they have already filed a Supreme Court petition questioning joint panel.
He also acused the DOJ of "engaging in propaganda" regarding allegations that the Arroyos will only try to hide in other countries
"Hindi sila makakapagtago," Lambino said, citing a statement made by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who said government can cancel the Arroyos' passports and demand their deportation.
He added that political asylum is also dangerous because it will damage diplomatic relations between countries.
Lambino said they are still studying suggestions to have the former President placed under either a hospital or house arrest. "We are studying all options available because we have already questioned the jurisdiction of the regional trial court."
Respect for former President
De Lima, meanwhile, said President Aquino wants Arroyo treated with utmost respect.
The Palace also will not object to a hospital or house arrest for the former president.
"Hindi kami mag-oobject sa hospital arrest. Although ang desisyon po does not lie with us, does not lie with the complainant which is the Comelec, but nasa korte yan. Kelangan humingi sila," de Lima said.
"Kung gusto nila hospital arrest or house arrest, they should get the court approval. Sa panig namin, kinonsulta ko nga ang President, he's in Bali, hindi kami mag-oobject," she added. - with a report from ANC
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@ ilda
Haaaay ilda, itong mahabang post mo dito ay napakalumang issue na yan. Tumahimik na nga eh, si Elena Bautista Horn ang dakilang sipsip at spokesperson ni GMA ang SINUNGALING, MANDARAYA AT MAGNANAKAW sa kaban ng bayan. Kayo ba ang pumalit sa kanya? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ulitin ko, luma o dead issue na yan at wala ng kakagat yan. You are just wasting your time. Have yourself updated on the current and interesting issues. Gets mo?
President Noynoy Aquino is really bad for the economy
"Some of PNoy’s supporters are defending his actions against GMA by saying that his relentless pursuit of GMA is for the sake of national interest. Never mind that when he was still a congressman, PNoy voted against playing the “Hello Garci” tape, which could have helped unravel the truth behind the allegations of electoral fraud against GMA during the 2004 Presidential election. Why he is pursuing GMA now after so many years of doing nothing is a mystery to most Filipinos.
But the fact remains, even if PNoy successfully prosecutes GMA, it is not going to change the environment of distrust that he has created around building up a case against GMA. By defying the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on GMA’s travel ban and his continued insistence to anyone who would listen that some members of the Supreme Court cannot be trusted to do the “honest” thing – and to PNoy, going against his wishes is actually enough proof of their dishonesty- indirectly causes low morale and cynicism among Filipinos. To be sure, PNoy is further damaging the credibility of the Supreme Court for his own personal interest.
His continued defiance of the SC continues to create political instability and could potentially drive away current and future investors, which in turn could result in a continued worsening of the country’s unemployment rate. In fact, a threat of a constitutional crisis has made some investors jittery. This was evident when an actual investor revealed in a forum that he is very cautious now about investing and some of his friends who wanted to invest have had second thoughts ever since PNoy came to power because he further destabilized the country’s already fringed investor risk profile. This situation is not good for the currently employed and those who are still seeking employment."
From the article: President Noynoy Aquino and the instability he created is really bad for the economy
Iikot nalang ba ang buhay
Iikot nalang ba ang buhay natin sa pamilyang Arroyo o sa pamilyang Aquino? Ang katumbas na mahalagang issue sa laganap na kahirapan, kawalan ng trabaho, kakulangan ng mga pumbubliko hospital, kawalan ng tiwala ng mga negosyante sa pamahalaan, laganap ng kagutuman, pataas ng kriminalidad sa lansangan, ang lahat na yan ay na isantabi dahil lang sa telenobela ng mga pulitiko na mayayaman. Wag ibuhos sa usaping politika ang resources ng pamahalaan, bigyan nyo rin ng pansin at pangmatagalan na soludyon ang pang-araw araw na panganga ilangan ng mga mahihirap. Hindi sapat ang CCT na pinamudmud sa mga mahihirap na parang tapal band-aid, dapat pangmatagaln na solusyon.
To Alundio Aguilar
Pare, itong mga sunod-sunod mong posts mali-mali ang mga grammar na nagpapatunay lamang na ikaw ay hindi abogado kundi abogago. Tumahimik ka na lang kaya kasi hindi mo naman nai-itendihan ang rules of court. Base sa ABS-CBN registration mo, ang nakalagay sa personal information mo, divorced ka, pero Pare walang divorce dito sa Pinas. Legal separation at Annulment of marriage lang ang meyron sa Pinas - pinagbawal ang divorce. Bobo ka talaga, kasi hindi ka naman abogado eh.
Hindi ka ba nahiya sa mga mali-mali mong grammar? Pare mag-aral ka naman ng tudo at huwag mong ipakita dito ang kabobohan at kagagohan mo. Tsk, tsk, tsk..........
to the moderators
by the way, thanks moderators for letting me in on this one. Just "off gassing" my personal opinions. I still think that people at abscbn are the best when it comes to "personal preference on attire". lol
On arroyo's arrest warrant
Does aquino have a hand on this? i don't know. I hope he doesn't have one, cause, if that's the case that he did in fact collaborated with the issuance of this "arrest warrant" then, he himself will be thrown into the pit of hell before arroyo has the chance to get there. Hopefully, he did not.
On arroyo's arrrest warrant
State prosecutors have waited years for this to happened, and now, it looks like their gonna lose it just because they did not follow the rules of court. This is something that will "haunt" them for the rest of their natural life. It's a shame indeed. However, i believed that manila still has the best lawyers there is, cause their probably not been lectured by defensor in the late eightees when she was a professor in law.
On arroyo's arrrest warrant
Just remember that; and i quote, "all persons are presumed to be innocent, until proven guilty in the court of law", end of quote. So, technically, arroyo is still innocent in the eyes of the law. The court can not just receive information and or complaint from anyone on the grounds of just a "hunch" or allegations or the court will have a backlog of cases for years to come. This is sort of a security measures by the court. To make sure that what you have in your complaint is actually readable in the court of law. And the protocol in this case against arroyo has not been met so far by the state prosecutors. This is not to be ignore by any one including the judge who issued the warrant.
On arroyo's arrest warrant
Continuation from posting below;
And this could only be possible if the judge has read the information and or complaint by the comelec alleging such wrongdoing by the defendant and that, the judge has a reasonable ground to believe that such torts actually did happened. Then, the judge should proceed to the next step, and that is, to assessed with the state prosecutors about the case going to court, if the judge feel that there is a strong evidence to support all the alleged torts, then, he should have gone to the next step, and that is to "summon" the former president to be in the court of law. If she decided not to appear in court, then, this is the time when the judge will issue a "warrant for her arrest and not the other way around.
ON arroyo's arrest warrant
I still quite not getting it about some rules of court that left me in the dark. The judge issued a warrant of arrest on account of the complaint/information that they received from the comelec about arroyo's alleged misgivings that happened when she was president. Warrant of arrest could only be signed, issued and served to the person involved only when the respondent (arroyo) did not appear to a certain date and time set by the court for deliberations of the alleged offense.