She does not have the last laugh. There’s still the PCSO plunder case. [/caption]Gloria Arroyo leaves VMMC
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) Wednesday, eight months after being placed under hospital arrest for electoral sabotage.
Not surprising at all. Click here on the column I wrote last June 3.
Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed Mrs. Arroyo walking hand in hand with a young boy, presumably her grandson, outside the hospital before boarding a coaster at around 2:30 pm.
Her legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, said the former President will pass by the VMMC chapel before going home at La Vista Subdivision. He said Mrs. Arroyo will seek alternative medical treatment in Tagaytay tomorrow, Thursday.
He said the former President will return to the VMMC every day next week to continue her therapy.
Lambino said there were “tears of joy” when the order for Mrs. Arroyo’s release was finally delivered. “It got quit emotional a while ago when the release order was delivered,” he said.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said among those who came to visit Mrs. Arroyo during her release are her daughter, Luli Arroyo, chief of staff Elena Bautista-Horn, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa and former congressman Benny Abante.
“She is happy that justice has been done. We’ve always said that this case was weak,” Topacio said.
Mrs. Arroyo’s release came on the same day a Pasay City regional trial court allowed her to post bail of 1 million pesos in the electoral sabotage case against her.
Arroyo, 65, was arrested at an exclusive hospital shortly after immigration authorities blocked her at Manila airport while trying to leave the country in November.
Arroyo was charged with “electoral sabotage”, a crime punishable with life in jail, for allegedly conspiring with a feared political warlord to rig the 2007 senatorial elections.
Her successor, Benigno Aquino, had vowed to have her brought to justice for many acts of corruption he alleged she committed during her nine years in office that ended in 2010.
Arroyo has also been charged with corruption for approving an allegedly graft-tainted contract to set up a national government broadband system as well as siphoning off $8 million in state lottery funds. With Agence France-Presse
Arroyo’s petition for bail in poll sabotage case granted
Former President and now Pampanga 2nd district Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s motion for bail in connection with her electoral sabotage case has been granted.
The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 under Judge Jesus Mupas approved the bail in a resolution signed Tuesday.
Mupas, however, denied the motion for bail of former Maguindanao Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol.
The court sheriff is now on the way to Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City to serve the resolution.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they may file an appeal following the court’s decision favoring Arroyo’s motion for bail.
“We will probably file a motion for reconsideration with the same judge. In the meantime, what we’re trying to verify now if it’s immediately executory or it will not become final until a motion for reconsideration is resolved. Yun lang ho ang gusto naming malaman muna,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said.
Brillantes said they have yet to receive a copy of Mupas’ resolution.
“We would like to read it first. I was talking to our prosecution team immediately and they said they have to see first what were the reasons why the former president was granted bail,” he said.
He said, “This was just the bail hearing. This could give us the lesson na baka kulang pa yung evidence naming and we can present additional evidence in the trial on the merits of the case.”
The Comelec chief said if the court’s order is executory and Arroyo immediately posts bail, she may be allowed to go home.
He, however, reiterated that Arroyo won’t be able to leave the country, as a hold departure order was issued by the Sandiganbayan against her in the plunder case for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds.
“I know for a fact the Sandiganbayan has already issued a hold departure older in the plunder case. I don’t think she will be able to leave the country, but she’ll be able to go out of the hospital and go home if she wants to,” he said.
Aside from Arroyo, nine other co-accused in the plunder case who are former officials of the PCSO and the Commission on Audit are included in the hold departure order.
They are:
– Sergio Valencia, former PCSO Chairperson
– Rosario Uriarte, former PCSO General Manager
– Manuel Morato, former PCSO Board Member
– Jose Taruc, former PCSO Board Member
– Raymundo Roquero, former PCSO Board Member
– Ma. Fatima Valdes, former PCSO Board Member
– Benigno Aguas, former PCSO Budget Officer
– Reynaldo Villar, former COA Chairperson
– Nilda Plaras, former COA Intelligence Officer
The order was in connection with the alleged misuse of some P365-million worth of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from 2007 to 2010.
This is the third hold departure order against Arroyo.
and right afer the Sona
Statement of Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan:
“Walang dapat pangambahan ang taumbayan sa pagpiyansa ng dating Pangulo na si Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, lalo pa sa ipinapakita ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino na mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga tiwali sa gobyerno.
“Kailangang respetuhin ang ang pasiya ng Korte. Ang mahalaga ay may hold departure order ang Sandiganbayan laban sa akusado at hindi ito makakaalis nang basta-basta. Ang mahalaga ay haharap ang akusado sa mga paratang laban sa kanya.
“Iba na ang panahon ngayon. Taumbayan na mismo ang masigasig na nakaabang at nagmamasid laban sa katiwalian at pagpataw ng hustisya. Natuto na tayo sa nakaraan.”
Mam Ellen, iba kung magpataw ng hustisya ang nasa ITAAS. Take the case of McCoy. Ilan ang population ng Bansa during that time. Bakit siya pa ang dinapuan ng pambihirang sakit na unti-unti niyang pagbaksak.
Medyo nangulimlim ang kapaligiran sa dalawang balitang naka headline. Una, Gloria Arroyo is now out of bail at pangalawa, Chinese fishing fleet closes in on Pag-asa Island..
Siguro. bilang isang “haka-haka”, may ugnayan ( kaya ) ang China vs: Philippine crises, sa GMA vs Kaso, sa bansang Pilipino, na kanyang panunungkulan ng halos 10-Taon…During her term, tahimik-na-tahimik ang tsina, ngunit, ng umupo, at naghigpit ng “sinturon y relasyon” ( NBN Case, at iba pa, etc..)si Pangulong Pinoy, nag-labasan ang mga scenerio-iksina na ito, sa Pag-asa Island, Scarborough Islets at territorial water ng bansang Pilipinas ?…Isang katanungan, at pananaw lamang ?…Ngunit, sabi ng # 3, Jojo, na-iiba ang hustisya na galing sa ITAAS !…
From Harry Roque’s Facebook wall:
PGMA’s release is a black eye on Sec. De Lima and Chairman Brillantes. Even I note how weak the evidence against her was.
Fortunately, OMB Carpio-Morales has come to the rescue anew and had filed a non-bailable plunder case against her.
Still, the image of PGMA walking to freedom sent a million words: impunity for the little devil! Thank goodness this will be short-lived.
She will be back behind bars for plunder and PLEASE: LET IT BE IN A REGULAR JAIL this time!
Korek, Harry. Para na akong sirang plaka in pointing out the weakness of the case.
Anyway, the electoral sabotage case has served its purpose. It put Gloria Arroyo in jail while a more solid case was being prepared against her.
But it leaves a bad taste in the mouth that an administration that presents itself as intent on reforming the judicial system had to twist the law to cover up its incompetence.
Super disappointed ako at nakalabas yang pandak na yan! Wala na talagang pagasa ang hustisya sa Pinas! But I am hopeful na marami pang mga kaso ang maisasampa sa bansot na yan.
Teka pala, nasaan si fatso? Bakit hindi nakasama sa entourage ni pandak?
Dapat subaybayan ng husto ang magasawang yan at baka makawala sila. Kahit na may hold departure order yan, di lang eroplano ang pwede nilang sakyan. May mga plano na yan na mag-disappear, ala Palparan at Reyes (yung pumatay kay Ortega na nagtago na ng husto). Dapat bantay sarado yang mga yan. Marami pa silang mga galamay. Baka makalusot at itago pa sila sa China para hindi makalkal ang maraming kasalanan nila sa Pinas, sa pagbebenta nila ng ating mga patrimony.
Gloria’s hospital arrest was just as comfortable as her house. Libre pa lahat. Shouldered by us the taxpayers.
But this bail incident showed that she was no longer actually sick. She scampered out of the hospital faster than lightning as soon as the bail decision came out. Miraculous cure, indeed.
But with the PCSO plunder (non-bailable) case at her heels, she won’t be allowed to travel out of the country. Will it be jail, hospital or house arrest this time?
It should be a real jail arrest. But if hospital arrest pa rin, she should now pay for everything.
God speed Omb Carpio Morales kayo ang pag asa
To Add: PhP-1-milyon lang na pesos, na bail out na !…Yuong Kinurakot, nasa Bilyunes yata, na Pesos, or millions of dollars…Talaga naman, Hustisya sa bansa, di balance o patas…Humina yata ang “election sabotage”, kasi yuong mga witnesses, nawawala yata, at marahil, nabili na sila, kasama na ang “hustisya”..Magkano kaya ?..a food for thought…
Mabuti mayroong tunay na CARPIO-MORALES !..Mataas ang antas na moralidad ( Morales ), at Carpio, isang matatag, malakas-matapang na “legend story”, na isina-pilikula ng mga late, 1950’s…Kailangan, dumami ang lahi ng Ombudsman ( Lady ), para tumino ng husto ang Pilipinas, The Iron Lady !..
I hope that CGMA’s freedom is short-lived and a plunderer must be put to regular detention cell. Carpio-Morales came just in time anyway at least a stronger case & non-bailable one will give them more headaches & nightmares! Atty Topacio earlier said he’d say goodbye to Arroyos but somehow, something happened twisting his mind.
The filing of the PCSO plunder case was the cue that Judge Mupas can now slacken the noose around Gloria’s neck. There was no other alternative but to grant bail. It was down to Unas’ words versus Gloria’s. Zaldy Ampatuan tried to give the corroborative testimony in exchange for the massacre case. No dice. And no one can connect Bedol to Arroyo except through Zaldy. They have reached a dead end as far as Arroyo is concerned unless new witnesses are sprung.
Mupas has done his part in making sure he kept the bitch within arm’s length of his court. It’s now time for the Sandiganbayan to step up to the late.
It’s also about time the whole system she had almost destroyed by her lonesome gave her a dose of her own medicine. Slowly but surely. Brutal and deadly. One friggin case at a time. Until she has paid in blood all the money she stole from us.
The pedophile Lezbos are waiting for you in City Jail. Yeah, midget, karma is such a bitch.
psb, the reason they are allowing FG to run around is for him to do his usual stuff, you know, like moving their loot in banks, certificates, bonds so that those assigned to spy on him can get an easy crack at those opportunities.
BTW, Arroyo is planning to go to Tagaytay to try alternative treatment for her disease.
I will share a SECRET and I hope none of her fans nor any member of LULI’s internet brigade can READ this.
I was told by a man who used to be very, very sick that he was standing at the ravine of the curve that is now a day market-cum-picnic grove at night, a spot just before the radar when he decided to end his life. He jumped and at about 100 feet, an angel caught him , brought him back up to the tables and said he was cured. And he was.
Now all those who followed suit experienced the same thing. They were all cured.
I hope nobody lets Arroyo in on this secret.
LOL.
I share tongue’s opinion #15 kaya hindi ako masyadong nasusuka pandakekak was granted bail. Pero masyadong maliit ang P1M na bail, kasinliit ng bruha.
tongue, sana nga mabasa ng mga Arroyo ang sekreto para masubukan ni piggy wiggly pati.
Hirap paniwalaan na may sakit si pandak, gala ng gala e! Punta ng Tagaytay pagkalabas ng ospital tapos biaje sa Pampanga, bukod pa sa biahe ospital 4 times a week para kuno sa terapi. Kung dispalinghado buto-buto ng katiting na babae na yan at hindi makalunok ng solid, makakangiti pa ba? Aba ga, malakas pa ke Superman!
Mga pinili kong reactions sa pansamantalang paglaya ni GMA:
Sixto Brillantes, COMELEC: I don’t know what could have gone wrong.
Jojo Robles, Manila Standard: Keep the neck brace handy.
Atty: Butch Diaz: One of her titanium implants was dislodged and has to be operated on. GMA needs to be examined by foreign experts.
Abante headline: Babalik ka rin!
Mabuti at nakalaya siya ng ma enjoy niya naman ang maraming pera niya. Alam ko na ang sasabihin niya kung mag speech sa kongreso. Magsasabi siya na dapat mag move on na at mag tulungan para umangat ang Pilipinas. Hindi siya magsasabi ng masama laban sa administrasyon. Pupurihin niya mga nagawa sa pamumuno ni Pnoy para magkaroon ng concern ang mga tao sa kanya. Nang sa ganun ay huwag na lang siyang kasuhan uli. Pa awa epek na ang gagawin niya.
Dapat talaga gumawa ng batas na ang magkakasala ay hindi na bibigyan pa ng pagkakataon. Bartolena agad.
re #18 & 20
chi baryang barya lang talaga ang P1M bail kung katulad ni Gloria ang akusado. Kasama din sa therapy niya ang maggala, magbiyahe at importante yong pagkaway-kaway habang palinga-linga para hindi manigas yong leeg kasabay ng ngiting peke para iwas locked jaw.
Kung ako ki Atty-Judge J. Mupas, pinaka-mababang bail out fee ay mga Php 10-Milyon pesos, plus !…sa Panahon ngayon, ang 1-milyon pesos, ay “kuko lang ang halaga”…Maraming dapat pag-kagastahan ng bail out money, tulad sa mga luma-at-sira-sirang mga kwarto sa mga Court rooms sa rural areas , at iba pa..Kayang kaya ng mga pamilya GMA ang 10-milyones, at isa din itong pagsubok na “marami nga silang perang” nailagay sa mga “paper bags”… tulad din sa mga nasasakdal, na taga-Maguindanao, mismong silong ng hagdanan, ay naging vault or bangko pa yata, base sa mga News reports noon..just my analysis for the good of the country..