ESCAPING CHARGES / EMBRACING CONTEMPT
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 19, 2011 (BULLETIN)
By GENALYN D. KABILING — The Aquino administration has vowed to prevent former
President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from eluding prosecution
and justice following the filing of poll sabotage charges against her, a Palace
official said Friday.
Presidential political adviser Ronaldo Llamas welcomed the decision of the
Commission on Elections to lodge the complaint and seek a hold departure order
against the former leader before the Pasay court.
Arroyo, who denied charges of massive cheating in the past elections, is
engaged in a bitter conflict with the executive branch that banned her from
leaving the country even though the Supreme Court allowed her to seek treatment
abroad.
"Clearly a HDO from any court will prevent her from leaving however we still
do not know what the Supreme Court will decide on the government's pending
motion for reconsideration on the watch list order. What we are sure about is
that this government will do everything possible under the law to prevent GMA
and FG (former First Gentleman) to escape prosecution and justice," Llamas said.
Llamas noted that Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, has showed in
recent events that she is trying to fly abroad to escape criminal charges
against her.
"The Arroyo couple has made it clear during the events of the past days that
their only motivation is to escape and the government and the people have
clearly spoken. GMA should not be allowed to escape and should be brought to
justice," he said.
Early this week, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order that
blocked the implementation of a government's travel ban on Arroyo. She tried to
fly to Singapore last Tuesday night but the government defied the SC order and
still barred her.
MANILA
BULLETIN COMMENTARY Medium Rare By JULLIE YAP DAZANovember 18, 2011, 11:35pm
Embracing Contempt
MANILA, Philippines — "Embrace the contempt."
That's the advice of the President's political adviser to Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima. Let the Supreme Court take action against her – by reprimand,
fine, or arrest and jail – but preferably by jailing her. But bring it on!
Should the Court follow Secretary Ronaldo Llamas' advice, it would ensure for
us telenovela fans parity and continuity in the unfolding "high drama" between
GMA and PBSAIII, between DoJ and SC, on the issue of allowing/not allowing the
former President to seek medical relief abroad. Miss Leila in jail would also
"protect the principal" from damage.
If Mr. Llamas sounds like a spin doctor out to pull a wished-for stunt for
maximum mileage, he says he has the support of public opinion surveys to back
the President's stand: She should not be allowed to leave. ABS-CBN's score was
72-28 percent agreeing with the President.
Like their boss, the President's men are "99.9 percent sure" that once
allowed to fly, she "will not return" to face electoral fraud and plunder
charges.
In the meantime, the Palace has been caught in a tizzy of meetings. The last
word from upstairs before he left for Bali was: "Fix it!"
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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