VINDICTIVE VS ARROYO / GMA READY TO FACE FATE
BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (STAR) By Pia Lee-Brago – The Aquino administration
is being vindictive in its treatment of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
which could result in a damaged democracy, according to an executive of a policy
think tank.
"It is a question of vindictiveness. It does not pay really to be vindictive
against a previous government," European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) vice
chairman Dick Gupwell said when asked recently about his observation of
political developments in the Philippines.
The EIAS, an independent and non-profit institution, provides information and
expertise to European Union institutions, the academic world and business on
EU-Asia relations as well as other developments in Asia.
"Politics is a dirty business. It was never squeaky clean and sometimes
people bend the rules. But being really vindictive and really trying to bring
(humiliation on) the other fellow... really makes it dirty. I do not think that
is good for democracy in the long run," he said.
"Otherwise when it is your turn to lose office the guy who takes over tries
to teach you in the same way, dig up also the dirt that they could possibly
find," he added.
He said political vendetta begets retribution, especially if those feeling
persecuted rise or return to power.
"She (Arroyo) is now taking the wrath, revenge in a way. If people committed
crimes they must be brought to justice but not in a humiliating way," Gupwell
said.
He cited the country's democratic achievements since the downfall of the
Marcos regime, although "there was difficulty" during the administration of
President Joseph Estrada "who behaved in a rather unusual way."
"In a democracy politicians have to abide by the rules but multi-party
democracy will not work if there is too much vindictiveness between parties so
that if you win the election you certainly become vindictive against the people
who lost," he said.
Gupwell cited the political maelstrom that characterized the leadership
change in Taiwan and Thailand, where outgoing leaders were accused of wrongdoing
and humiliated.
"You have to give up power gracefully and let the other people come back from
time to time. You can't monopolize," he said.
Arroyo is under arrest in her suite at the St. Luke's Medical Center in
Taguig City as she awaits trial for electoral sabotage, a non-bailable offense
punishable by life imprisonment. A Pasay City court ordered her arrest last Nov.
18 hours after finding probable cause to charge her and two others with
electoral sabotage in connection with alleged massive cheating in the 2007
senatorial polls.
Earlier on Nov. 15 – after securing a Supreme Court temporary restraining
order on a government travel ban – Arroyo and her entourage rushed to the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport to board a plane bound for Hong Kong where she
purportedly was to see a specialist to treat her bone disorder.
Immigration officials, however, barred them from boarding their flight.
FROM THE INQUIRER
'Gloria Arroyo ready to face fate' But lawyer doubts if her
body 'can take all this' By TJ Burgonio PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has apparently come to terms
with the possibility of suffering the fate of her deposed predecessor, Joseph
"Erap" Estrada, who was initially held in a government facility after being
arrested for plunder.
Arroyo's legal spokesperson, Raul Lambino, on Saturday conceded that with
government prosecutors strongly opposed to his client's house arrest while on
trial for electoral sabotage, the odds were now stacked against it.
"She could suffer the same treatment that was given to Erap—that is, to be
detained in a government facility or hospital. We are ready for that. It could
happen," Lambino said in an interview by phone.
"As she said, 'We accorded Erap a resort arrest, the best resort that he has.
If P-noy (President Aquino) can't give us the same courtesy, so be it.'… She's
spiritually, psychologically and emotionally prepared for all the hardships
she's going to face and is now facing. [But] I don't know if her physical body
can take all this," he said.
Arroyo, now a representative of Pampanga, was served a warrant of arrest on
Nov. 18. At a hearing last Friday, one of her doctors, Mario Ver, declared her
"medically fit" and said she could be treated for her bone ailment as an
"outpatient."
Her lawyers then dropped an earlier urgent petition for her to be allowed to
remain at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City and moved for her house
arrest.
Lead election prosecutor Ma. Juana Valeza asked that Arroyo be transferred
from St. Luke's to any government detention facility, including the Southern
Police District (SPD) headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo also broached the Armed Forces of the
Philippines Medical Center as a possible detention facility.
Change of position
Lambino said the government prosecutors' opposition had made it "very
difficult" for the defense to secure house arrest for Arroyo.
"The government has changed its position. [House arrest] was an offer coming
from the government. We were confident it will not object and renege on its
promise. Now they're objecting," he said.
He added that had the government not objected, it would have been easier for
Judge Jesus Mupas of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 to rule in favor
of the defense motion.
The prosecution and defense panels are to formalize their positions on
Tuesday, according to Lambino.
"GMA is not asking for a paradise resort… Whatever the court decides, we're
going to respect it. GMA is ready to face all the difficulties," he said.
Estrada, who was arrested on April 25, 2001, was initially detained at
Veterans' Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and then moved to a military
camp in Tanay, Rizal. He was later transferred to his rest house in Tanay, where
he stayed for the duration of his trial.
Months after he was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan in 2007,
Estrada was pardoned by then President Arroyo.
Lambino dismissed comments that Arroyo's purported urgent need for medical
treatment abroad for her bone ailment had been shattered by her doctor's
admission that she was "medically fit" to leave St. Luke's.
Urgency 'always there'
Lambino said Arroyo was "medically fit" to stay home before she and her
husband were blocked at the airport from leaving for abroad on Nov. 15, and had
to be taken to St. Luke's again because of the stress.
"The urgency of being treated abroad is always there. The doctors in the
Philippines have been giving out these medications to avert the possibility of
different complications for immediate and speedy recovery, which is not
happening. She's been stronger compared with when she was in the hospital two
months ago… Of course, they can always prescribe a medicine. But the issue is,
is that the right medicine?" he said.
He added that he was not aware that Arroyo's lawyers were harassing her
doctors, as had been bruited about.
With the electoral sabotage case that she's facing and the string of other
cases that the government is preparing to file against her, is Arroyo done as a
lawmaker?
Said Lambino: "She's innocent of the charges. She will remain a congresswoman
until she finishes her term. She's not going to be a coward and surrender the
right that she has [because of] the fabricated lies. She's going to face all
this and clear her name. The court will eventually come out with the truth."
Arroyo is charged with electoral sabotage along with Andal Ampatuan Sr. and
Lintang Bedol, former Maguindanao governor and election supervisor,
respectively, on the recommendation of a joint panel of the Department of
Justice and Commission on Elections that looked into the purported fraud in the
2007 senatorial polls in parts of Mindanao.
But according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Arroyo's lawyers have not
provided "enough basis in asking for house or hospital arrest."
"But then, it will be up to the court to decide on where to detain" the
former President, she told reporters yesterday at Camp Karingal in Quezon City,
where she attended a shooting competition for prosecutors.
"If there is no basis for hospital confinement, then there is no basis to ask
for house arrest," she said. "[Arroyo's lawyers] have to convince the court that
house arrest is the best arrangement."
De Lima said she preferred that Arroyo be held at the SPD headquarters.
Detention cell ready
Early last week, Senior Supt. James Bucayu, the SPD deputy director for
administration and officer in charge, ordered the conversion of the district
public information office and media lounge into a detention room for Arroyo,
according to Chief Insp. Jenny Tecson.
Tecson, the SPD spokesperson, said her staff moved some furniture to make
room for a bed. She said the district logistics office was to set up a wooden
divider to give the prospective occupant some privacy and to separate the
receiving area from the sleeping area.
The room, beyond which is the district grandstand area where police-organized
events are held, has been given a fresh coat of paint and is pretty much ready
for occupancy, Tecson said.
Joel Pelicano, clerk of court of Pasay RTC Branch 112, said on Friday that
the court would conduct an inspection of the SPD detention cell possibly
tomorrow, to check on its condition as well as the security arrangements.
Pelicano told reporters that Judge Mupas may personally make the visit or
delegate a member of the court staff to do the inspection for him.
He clarified that this did not mean the judge was favoring Arroyo's detention
at the SPD, only that it was the proper procedure.
Pelicano discounted an immediate transfer of Arroyo from St. Luke's to the
SPD headquarters, saying the court would still have to weigh the arguments that
the prosecution and defense would raise.
He said the court had given the prosecution and defense until Tuesday to
formalize the proposals they made during Friday's hearing.
After Tuesday, the two panels will be given time to comment on their
respective proposals, Pelicano said. With reports from Miko
Morelos and Julie M. Aurelio
ABOUT EIAS
Information about the Institute The European Institute for Asian
Studies (EIAS) is a Brussels-based Think Tank and Policy Research Centre, which
aims to promote understanding between the EU and Asia.
Geographically focusing on North-East Asia, South-East Asia and South Asia,
the European Institute for Asian Studies seeks to provide information to
policymakers in European and other institutions, by bringing academic expertise
to bear on EU decision making with regard to Asia. EIAS also acts as a clearing
house for regular exchanges of ideas between those involved in Asian affairs in
the EU institutions, European and Asian academic research centres, Embassies and
Diplomatic Missions, the business community, trade unions, non-governmental
organisations and other civil society actors, as well as the media.
EIAS Activities
EIAS activities include undertaking research studies, issuing and
disseminating publications, and organising (lunch) briefings, seminars and
conferences. Essential is its keenness to improve understanding of developments
in Asia and the appreciation of the importance of the EU's relations with Asia.
The EIAS activities are numerous, however in particular acting as a forum for
discussion, organising research and disseminating information. In addition, EIAS
participates in Europe-Asia networks of research and analysis, for example as a
Member of the European Alliance for Asian Studies, which is a co-operative
framework of European institutes specialising in Asian Studies.
EIAS Network
Moreover, EIAS draws on an active network of several hundred collaborators
across the EU and Asia, at leading Universities, as well as within Think Tanks
and specialised research centres. Our network comprises a rich cross-section of
disciplines and sectors, officials and civil society players, policy makers and
policy shapers, scholars and diplomats, from all nationalities. For specific
research projects, conferences or round-tables, this constitutes a unique
intellectual resource, being built up during more than 20 years.
European Institute for Asian Studies EIAS a.s.b.l. Rue de la Loi 67 B-1040
Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 230 81 22 Fax: +32 (0)2 230 54 02 E-mail: eias@eias.org Website: http://www.eias.org
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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