“It’s a long delayed action. GMA and cohorts must be made accountable for plundering the government coffers. It’s high time that the Aquino administration should stop treating GMA and cohorts with kid gloves and aggressively pursue the cases against them. Jail is the right place for GMA, et al, not Congress” — Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Second Nominee, Bayan Muna
By DAVAO TODAY
POOLED REPORT
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was served an arrest warrant on Thursday for a plunder case filed in July by the Office of the Ombudsman. The arrest stemmed from a complaint that she and other officials misused the 365 million-peso funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The arrest against Arroyo, incumbent representative of Pampanga’s First District, was ordered by the Sandiganbayan First Division in Quezon City on Wednesday. Associate Justice Efren Cruz signed the arrest order which was confirmed by lawyer Estela Teresita Rosete.
The warrant was delivered by officials of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region to Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Arroyo was reportedly at the government-run hospital for her regular check-up. She’s now a “hospital detainee,” a police official said.
Other former officials of the PCSO were also issued a warrant of arrest: Sergio Valencia, former Chairman of the Board; Rosario Uriarte, former Vice-Chairman and General Manager; Manuel Morato, former member of the Board of Directors (BoD); Jose Taruc V, former BoD member; Raymundo Roquero, former member of the BoD; and Ma. Fatima Valdez, former BoD member.
With this development, Davao Today asked Davao folks for their reactions.
Excerpts:
Dapat lang gyud mapriso siya kung naay sala. Prisohon man gani ang pobre nga gamay ra ang sala, wala pa jud klaro, dakpon man gani ug prisohon.
— Nono San Pedro, 37, fruit vendor
“It’s a long delayed action. GMA and cohorts must be made accountable for plundering the government coffers. It’s high time that the Aquino administration should stop treating GMA and cohorts with kid gloves and aggressively pursue the cases against them. Jail is the right place for GMA, et al, not Congress!
— Atty. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Second Nominee, Bayan Muna Partylist
Dugay na kaayo na iyang kaso, karon pa magrelease og warrant of arrest? She’s been found guilty, matagal na. Ba’t ngayon lang?
— Anneliese Lomboy, Virtual Assistant
Jail Arroyo and never let her go away! Bantayan rin ang pagmamaniobra ng administrasyong Aquino dahil alam nating lahat na election mode na.
— Edgie Francis Uyanguren, Reseacher, University of the Philippines-Diliman
Let this not keep us away from other pressing issues. While we rejoice as we must celebrate over this development, let us not lose grip over other matters of importance. And I am talking about cybercrime prevention law or the continued killings of journalists, peasants, workers and activists. We can’t glorify a government like what we have now. Oh. Am i going to jail now?
— Jeffry Tupas, Board of Director, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
After almost three years and more than a handful of Arroyo’s high crimes against the people, the Aquino government has not built up a case against the former President. Pnoy has opted to tag her with minor ones despite the fact that Arroyo has committed various gross violations against the people’s civil and political rights notwithstanding the fact that Arroyo, her family and her cohorts rapaciously plundered the country’s wealth. From the very start, it has no intentions to prosecute Arroyo. Instead, it has consistently used her as a smokescreen every time its popularity would plunge. Aquino will now again use Arroyo to dodge the fiery darts that the people’s protest has fired against its draconian and Marcosian Cybercrime Act. While Arroyo deserves to be in jail, let not the people’s focus be muddled. This regime, like Arroyo’s, is deceitful, irresponsible and anti-people. There is no significant difference between the two. At the end of the day, Aquino will just give Arroyo a slap on the wrist.
— Omar Bantayan, labor rights advocate
It was a result of the progressive movement’s determination to put Arroyo permanently in jail after the Aquino government blundered by filing a weak case of electoral fraud. The people really want Arroyo to account for all her crimes against the people.
— Juland Suazo, Public Information Officer, Panalipdan-Southern Mindanao
That would mean that the justice system here is still working no matter who you are.
— Atty. Joseph Felizarta, Officer-in-Charge, City Environment and Natural Resources Office
That is a course of action that is long delayed. It should have been issued. What with all the cases against her. No special treatment has been Gabriela’s call. Political will in the part of the present administration can be manifested by pursuing cases against her initiated by a warrant of arrest.
— Prof. Luz Ilagan, Representative, Gabriela Women’s Partylist
Very good. This will deter future plunderer of people’s money.
— Ernesto Dilodilo, VP, Federation of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Banana Based Cooperatives of Davao
The Filipino people are worthy of justice. We need speedy trial versus GMA, not media blitz.
— Atty. Leah Librado-Yap, Councilor, First District
GMA’s arrest is long overdue. It goes to show, the wheels of justice are turning, albeit slowly. Let’s hope this would not be another practice in futility. She should be held accountable.
— Atty. Antoinette Principe
We can’t help but view the timing of the arrest as a diversion from the overwhelming protest against the Cybercrime Prevention Law. However, we welcome the arrest. Finally, Gloria Arroyo will be made accountable for plunder. The Aquino administration should show its sincerity in holding GMA guilty for her numerous crimes, including plunder.
— Leah Emily Minoza, Executive Director, Women Studies and Resource Center
