(Editor’s Note: We asked Filipinos across the country the question to get a sense of how they want former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be treated while being tried for electoral sabotage, a nonbailable offense. They gave their answers before Judge Jesus Mupas ordered that she be transferred to Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.)
The Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution—past and present—of the Republic of the Philippines, takes precedence over all other provisions thereof. Every public official before he assumes his duties takes an oath to “preserve and defend the Constitution,” not the “prosecution.”
The few voices crying “persecution” in denouncing the Aquino administration’s move to stop former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s attempt to fly to Singapore don’t seem to understand the difference between “persecution” and “prosecution.”
The ideal virtue that is desired of a court, whether it is a single-judge court or a collegial body, is “the cold neutrality of an impartial judge.” This, of course, is a consummation devoutly wished but not always attained.
If only the sight of it didn’t hurt, I could have died laughing watching on TV Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the airport last November 15—her short neck strangled by a brace; antlers protruding from the sides of her head; not a trace of a makeup on her face; all the work of Vicki Belo, or whoever, lost to gravity and age; her sparse hair matted like a madwoman’s; a drab mantilla usually reserved for the terminally ill thrown over her shoulders; and, for total effect, sitting on a wheelchair, giving the worst performance of her life.
Several days ago, this column asked if former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was faking her illness so that she would be allowed to leave the country purportedly to seek medical treatment for her condition abroad. Before the weekend, the answer came from Arroyo’s doctors themselves testifying before the Pasay Regional Trial Court: No, she is not that sick, and yes, her lawyers and spokesmen are faking it. In fact, GMA (Arroyo) is fit to leave St. Luke’s Medical Center anytime, according to Dr. Mario Ver, her orthopedic surgeon.
He who comes to court must come with clean hands. The court should not come to the aid of a party whose own fault brought about the grievance he is complaining of.
Like on TV, the Arroyo camp displayed an example of a distorted Filipino sense of value—“Kung makalusot, ehhh!” We are talking of that November 15 drama at the Naia 1 when former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband tried to board a plane bound for Singapore. They were stopped in their tracks by Immigration authorities.
I WRITE on behalf of the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO). From its founding, the FSGO has been critical of the Arroyo regime. In deference to President Aquino’s admonition to “treat her with respect,” we will not comment for now on her antics at the Naia Terminal 1 on the evening of Nov. 15. We [...]
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the Graduate School of Law of San Beda College, described as “patently lame” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s legal position that the TRO issued by the Supreme Court, which would have allowed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband to leave the country, was not as yet final, hence, cannot be enforced. [...]
One, I agree completely, Jose Midas Marquez should be investigated for misleading the public on the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order. Which is a euphemism for calling on the Court to fire the guy. He doesn’t speak for that Court, he speaks for Renato Corona. He is not the voice of the justices, let alone of justice, he is the voice of Corona, thereby of injustice.
The job of the justice secretary is to see to it that due process is observed and the ends of justice are attained. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was merely doing her job when she revealed recently that she had acquired information that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might be planning to seek political asylum in faraway Dominican Republic to escape prosecution for plunder and electoral sabotage.
