GMA MUST BE TREATED W/ UTMOST RESPECT
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 19, 2011 (TIMES)
(Photo - Officials of the Southern Police District hold
a press conference at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City (Metro Manila) on
the serving of an arrest warrant against former President Gloria Arroyo on
Friday. PHOTO BY JESSIE LAURETA)
Former President Gloria Arroyo was placed under hospital arrest on Friday,
hours after she was charged with poll sabotage by the Commission on Elections.
Police said that fluctuating blood pressure of the ex-leader prevented them
from hauling the accused from St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City (Metro
Manila) to jail despite having served her a warrant of arrest issued by a lower
court early on Friday.
They added that the Arroyo camp had insisted that Mrs. Arroyo was not fit to
leave the hospital because "her blood pressure is not in stable condition."
The former president's bone ailment was being monitored at St. Luke's.
Mrs. Arroyo, ex-election officer Lintang Bedol and former Gov. Andal Ampatuan
Sr. of Maguindanao province in southern Mindanao, among others accused of
rigging the 2007 polls, were subjects of arrest warrants issued by Judge Jose
Mupas of Pasay City (Metro Manila) Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112.
She could no longer leave the country because of the what the Arroyo camp
called the suspiciously "timely" release of the warrant of arrest against her.
Since the case of electoral sabotage is considered as heinous, there is no
bail recommended and affirmation by the Supreme Court of its temporary
restraining order (TRO) on a Watch List Order against Mrs. Arroyo and her
husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, became mooted.
The Taguig City police chief, Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario, together with
his men, entered St. Luke's to coordinate with the medical center's
administrator in securing the vicinity while waiting for servers of the warrant
of arrest against the former leader.
Agents of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) led by Sonny Joson, the
bureau chief in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), served the warrant
at the hospital bed of Mrs. Arroyo.
Apolinario said that he had ordered his men not to allow any group of
protesters to air their sentiments because, he added, St. Luke's is not a
freedom park where they can say their piece.
The camp of Mrs. Arroyo allegedly tried to mislead the warrant servers by
transferring the patient from one room to another, an allegation that officials
of the medical center refused to confirm or deny.
The NBI agents secure the room on the 15th floor of St. Luke's were Mrs.
Arroyo was confined after they were convinced that the subject of the arrest
warrant needs intense monitoring by her attending doctors.
Minutes later, Police Director Alan Purisima of the National Capital Region
Police Office (NCRPO) also arrived armed with the same arrest warrant and joined
the agents.
Purisima instructed Senior Supt. James Bucayu in behalf of the Southern
Police District to serve the arrest warrant.
Mrs. Arroyo's "physical condition prohibited us [from bringing her to jail].
If her condition improves tomorrow, we will bring her to Southern Police
District," Bucayu said in the vernacular during a press briefing.
He added that they will send people who will get mug shots and fingerprints
of Mrs. Arroyo after they have detailed some policemen to guard the former
president to assure that she cannot escape. Bucayo said that they also tried to
read the patient the Miranda Rights but lawyer Raul Lambino waived the standard
procedure to avoid further stress for the ex-leader.
He described the condition of Mrs. Arroyo as good and said that she was still
wearing a neck brace.
"May mga gwardya kaming itinalaga na magbantay sa buong magdamag matapos na
tanggapin naman ng mga abogado ni Mrs. Arroyo ang warrant at sinabing inaasahan
na nila ito [We posted guards for overnight duty after Mrs. Arroyo's lawyers
received the arrest warrant, which they said they had expected]," Bucayo said.
He added that they cannot tell the exact date when they can bring Mrs. Arroyo
to the Southern Police District but vowed that once the condition of the former
president improves, they will proceed with their plan to transfer her there.
In jail or out of jail, de Lima vowed utmost respect for the ex-leader.
"Rest assured, that throughout the judicial process, the government will
exercise fairness and impartiality and will uphold every right that Mrs. Arroyo
as an accused is entitled to under the Constitution," she told a press briefing
in Malacañang.
"For a legal proceeding that has great implications not just on the integrity
of our electoral system but also to the very principles of our nation's
democracy, it is our desire that truth and accountability prevail and that the
Filipino people are finally given the justice they truly deserve," de Lima said.
With reports from Jaime Pilapil, Neil A. Alcober, Mayvelin
U. Caraballo And Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
FROM THE DAILY INQUIRER
President Aquino wants Gloria Arroyo treated with 'utmost
respect'—De Lima By Christine O. Avendaño Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:29 am | Saturday, November 19th, 2011
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III wants Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
being a former President, to be treated with "utmost respect," Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima said late Friday.
De Lima made the remark shortly before police officers were to serve the
arrest warrant on Arroyo at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig city.
The President will also not object if Arroyo, who is afflicted with a bone
ailment, seeks house or hospital arrest while her electoral sabotage case is
being heard, according to De Lima, citing her earlier conversation with Mr.
Aquino who is in Indonesia for the 19th Asean summit.
Arroyo has been confined at the hospital since Tuesday night, when she made a
foiled attempt to leave the country.
"For as long as she stays in the hospital, or maybe at home, we will not
insist on bringing her to any detention facility. But the moment she leaves the
premises, then our law enforcers are constrained to arrest her and put her in an
appropriate detention facility," De Lima said.
Policemen will secure the home or hospital where Arroyo is and "watch whether
she would leave or not," the justice secretary said.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo also said the Aquino administration would
not object if Arroyo asked to be "detained" in her home or in the hospital.
Robredo said he contacted the former President's son, Camarines Sur Rep.
Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo as well as an Arroyo ally, Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba,
Pampanga, immediately after the warrant for her arrest was issued.
"We've notified the family because we will accord due respect to the former
President at may sakit siya (since she is sick)," Robredo told the INQUIRER over
the phone.
"Should she decide [she wants to stay] in the hospital or at home, that will
be considered. Of course we will get permission from the court, but we will not
object. If that is requested, we will not oppose," he said.
But the administration will not allow Arroyo to leave the country, Robredo
said. "If she goes to the airport, she will be arrested," he said.
At a Palace news conference, De Lima said the warrant for Arroyo's arrest had
rendered "moot and academic" the issues surrounding the temporary restraining
order issued by the Supreme Court, which sought to stop the Department of
Justice from implementing its watch-list order on Arroyo and her husband.
"Thus, Ms Arroyo is compelled to stay in the country and face the charges of
electoral sabotage filed against her, bringing us closer to uncovering the truth
behind the controversies surrounding the 2007 elections," De Lima said, reading
from a prepared statement.
She expressed assurance that the government would "exercise fairness and
impartiality, and uphold every right that Ms Arroyo, as an accused, is entitled
to under the Constitution" throughout the judicial process.
"For a legal proceeding that has great implications not just to the integrity
of the electoral system but also to the very principles of our nation's
democracy, it is our desire that truth and accountability prevail, and that the
Filipino people are finally given the justice they truly deserve," she said.
With reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan and Marlon Ramos
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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