“Siya po eh tanggap na niya ang paglipat. Nakikipag-ayos na sila (Arroyo) sa mga kapulisan para maging smooth ang transition ng paglipat ni Mrs. Arroyo sa Veterans. (She has already accepted her transfer. Her camp is coordinating with the police for Mrs. Arroyo’s smooth transfer to the Veterans),” Topacio said.
The Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 ordered on Nov. 18, 2011, that Mrs. Arroyo under hospital arrest while facing charges of electoral sabotage in Maguindanao in 2007.
Topacio said Arroyo, who is currently the congressional representative of the 2nd District of Pampanga, will likely be transferred from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to the VMMC via land.
Malacañang said President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered authorities to ensure a trouble-free transfer of his predecessor to the VMMC, which is a military-run hospital, and assigned Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to the task.
“The President has directed Secretary Robredo that the former President should be secured during the transfer to Veterans Memorial (hospital). Secretary Robredo will be making preparations and making sure that the transfer will be as smooth as possible,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
At the same time, Lacierda welcomed a Pulse Asia survey showing majority of Filipinos preferred Arroyo to stay in the country and face the charges leveled against her.
The Pulse Asia survey, conducted last November 10 to 23, showed 69 percent of the respondents agreed that the former leader should stay her while only 19 percent believe she can travel abroad.
Lacierda said the Palace appreciates that the Filipino people are “at one with the President in desire to see accountability in this administration on the past excesses of the Arroyo administration.”
Palace advises GMA lawyers
Meantime, Lacierda advised the Arroyo camp to seek public support at home, not abroad, in the legal predicament of the former leader.
Lacierda said Raul Lambino, one other lawyer of the former leader, is “appealing to the wrong audience” amid his plans to seek more international support in the plight of his client.
“He should appeal to the Filipino people for support. What is important here is the sentiments of the Filipino people rather than international audience,” he added.
Lacierda maintained that the government is not being vindictive against Arroyo, saying it is providing due process for the former leader. “Our program of justice will give Arroyo her day in court,” he said.
Still, Topacio criticized the Aquino administration for its alleged “continuous persecution and harassment” of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies.
He said the latest move to file a plunder case against Mrs. Arroyo is a clear indication that government will do everything in their power to further embarrass and persecute her.
He added that the filing of charges against former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos due to allegations of poll fraud during the 2007 senatorial and local elections plus the ruling of the House of Representatives’ declaring that the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Justice Mariano del Castillo is “sufficient in form,” only means that government is not finish with their pattern of “harassment” and “twisting of the justice system.”
Topacio said Mrs. Arroyo expressed sadness over these developments as they will not do well for the people and the country.
Handcuffs for Arroyo?
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday that the use of manacles has never been considered during the planning of the security measures that will be implemented in Friday’s transfer of Mrs. Arroyo to the VMMC.
“We believe that it is already unnecessary,” said Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman.
Cruz said doing away with the use of handcuffs cannot be considered as special treatment for the former President, saying it is more of a humanitarian consideration due to the medical condition of the 64-year old Arroyo.
Arroyo, it was recalled, underwent spine operation and recently diagnosed with illnesses like hyperthyroidism, bone disease and the recent was colitis, an inflammation of large intestine.
“Aside from her medical condition, we believe that we should pay her due respect and the courtesy as former head of State, as our former President,” said Cruz.
By: FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
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