I WAS PREJUDGED BY NOY GOVT
[PHOTO - Former President
Gloria Arroyo]
MANILA,
DECEMBER 9, 2011 (STAR) By Paolo Romero- "I was prejudged by the Aquino
administration."
This was the lament aired by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo on the eve of her transfer to the Veterans Memorial Medical
Center (VMMC) in Quezon City today, even as she maintained that she committed no
wrongdoing during her nine years in office.
"Ang masabi ko I have peace of mind dahil malinis ang aking kunsensya. Gaya
ng sabi ko sa aking pagkapangulo bukod tanging layunin ko ay maglingkod (All I
can say is that I have peace of mind because I have a clear conscience. Like
what I have said, in my presidency I only wanted to serve)," Arroyo told GMA 7
broadcaster Arnold Clavio yesterday in an interview aired over the network's
primetime newscast 24 ORAS.
The interview, which was held in her suite at the St. Luke's Medical Center
in Taguig City, was her first television interview since she underwent surgery
on her cervical spine last July 29.
"Now I was prejudged by the new administration. They even resorted to
demagoguery so that they can demonize me. Of course, if I am portrayed as bad he
will look good," she said.
She added that she is sustained by the advice of her father, the late
President Disodado Macapagal, that "do what is right, do your best and God will
take care of the rest."
"My only duty is to serve our countrymen. Nobody can quarrel with me over my
industriousness."
She said her faith in God remains strong.
She said she is recovering from her three neck operations. But it remains
uncertain whether her health will return to normal as there is still no official
biopsy on her suspected metabolic bone disease.
She declined to answer questions on her numerous criminal cases, but said,
"Ako ay naniniwala sa (I believe in the) rule of law."
Arroyo said doctors have reduced by two the daily tablets she is taking to
23.
She said among her biggest sources of inspiration are her grandchildren, who
often help her get up from bed whenever she needs to go to the bathroom.
The former leader disclosed that she did some online shopping for gifts for
her grandchildren but she declined to say what they were.
20 pounds lighter
Arroyo has accepted her fate but is depressed with her scheduled detention at
the VMMC in Quezon City today, her husband said.
Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo yesterday said his wife has lost
more than 20 pounds since last month after Malacañang prevented her from leaving
for Singapore to seek medical treatment for her cervical spine ailment.
"I think she's come to accept the reality that she will be transferred (to
VMMC) but I can see that she's depressed. She's just a little over 90 pounds
now," Mr. Arroyo said. He said the Pampanga lawmaker has just recovered from a
bout of colitis or inflammation of the large intestines and the family as well
as her doctors have been prodding her to eat more to regain her strength.
"This morning she said she will not eat breakfast because she said she's
nauseated. But we all are trying to lift her spirits up," he said.
Mr. Arroyo earlier warned that if anything happens to his wife, he will hold
President Aquino personally responsible.
He said he and their two sons – Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo and Ang
Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo – would accompany her to the
VMMC.
Their only daughter, Evangeline Arroyo-Bernas, is abroad due to a delicate
pregnancy, he said.
He said he and his wife will bring just one suitcase each of clothes since
the furniture and automatic hospital bed have been transferred already to her
suite.
Her spokesperson Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn said the lawmaker has requested that
a small altar be put up in her suite.
The former leader went down from the 16th floor of Saint Luke's Medical
Center (SLMC) to the 5th floor to attend a thanksgiving Mass at 6 p.m.
The priest celebrating the mass reminded Arroyo that "God allows (hardships)
so that we will be able to have total experience of God's love."
Arroyo's supporters said they "feel bad" about what the government is doing
to the former leader. Some also expressed grievance against the media for
allegedly trying to picture Arroyo as a bad person.
"Parang wala na siyang nagawang mabuti kung i-portray siya sa media (As if
she did nothing good as the media portray her)," said Soiri Luz Nuyda.
Arroyo's cousin Lita Macapagal Gonzales said Arroyo does not deserve such
treatment.
Among the personalities who attended the Mass were Zambales Rep. Mitos
Magsaysay, businessman Donald Dee, former Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon,
and former PCGG chair Camilo Sabio.
Arroyo, wearing a neck brace, blue dress, covered with a shawl, gamely posed
with her supporters after the Mass.
Some kissed her, shook her hand, and took pictures of her. The STAR tried to
interview her but the former leader only gave a smile.
Daily Mass
Mr. Arroyo said his wife would try to attend daily Masses at the VMMC chapel,
which is about three blocks away from her suite.
Bautista-Horn said they have requested her doctors at SLMC to regularly check
up on her at the VMMC.
She said SLMC doctors, led by her personal physician, Dr. Juliet
Gopez-Cervantes, would turn her over to Philippine National Police (PNP) medical
personnel, who in turn, would bring her to VMMC doctors.
The sheriff of the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 112 made a final
inspection of the presidential suite at VMMC yesterday.
Lawyer Rodelio Buenviaje said he would report to RTC Judge Jesus Mupas the
physical condition of the VMMC presidential suite, particularly the bathroom
that was the subject of a motion filed by the defense asking for an extension of
her stay at SLMC in Taquig City.
He said the PNP will be in charge of the transfer of Arroyo from the SLMC,
while security at the VMMC will be the responsibility of both the police and the
military.
Joel Pelicano, RTC branch 112 clerk of Court, said that the ban on the use of
cellphones and computers would be enforced at the presidential suite of the VMMC
pending the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by defense
lawyers.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent George Regis
said the PNP had also prepared the VMMC helipad in case there is a last minute
change to airlift the former president instead of traveling by land.
Anti-Arroyo activists and her supporters are expected to converge at the
vicinity of the VMMC.
Regis said considering the huge number of protesters expected to gather
outside the hospital premises, Arroyo is more likely to be airlifted to the
hospital.
He said the big rally that is expected to be staged by various groups would
prompt the PNP to implement Plan B, which means transporting the
patient-prisoner by helicopter.
Regis said security inside and outside the hospital would be tight with more
than 200 policemen deployed at gates 1 and 2 of the hospital.
PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome will supervise Arroyo's
transfer.
Regis said once the former president is at the VMMC, QCPD Station 2 commander
Superintendent Audie Madrideo would be in charge.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said there is a 50-50 chance that Arroyo
will be airlifted to the VMMC.
Robredo said Bartolome would decide on whatever mode will be used to transfer
Arroyo.
Arroyo's lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said it is best if the former president is
transferred to the VMMC faster.
"Hope there is no delay in the streets for health and security reasons,"
Topacio said.
He also appealed to the media to just wait for Arroyo at the VMMC, instead of
trailing the police convoy from the SLMC to avoid security risks.
Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, deputy chief for administration of the
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said 150 policemen would be
deployed to secure the convoy of Arroyo.
Laurel, head of Task Force FPGMA (Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo),
said additional policemen were deployed yesterday at the SLMC following reports
that militant groups and anti-Arroyo forces would stage a protest rally at the
hospital.
Maj. Gen. Tristan Kison, chief of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines-National Capital Region Command (AFP-NCRCOM), has placed a battalion
of soldiers on standby to assist the police in Arroyo's transfer. With Perseus Echeminada, Michael Punongbayan, Aie Balagtas See,
Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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