MANILA, Philippines— The Philippines might be seen in a bad light if the government gives in to former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s wish to be detained in her house at La Vista subdivision instead of putting her in an ordinary jail.
This was the reaction of militant lawmakers to the contention of Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Gregorio Honasan that the Aquino administration could face an international backlash if it went ahead with its plan to “humiliate” Arroyo and transfer her to a police station jail.
“I disagree with their observation. It will be more embarrassing for the Philippines if we do not follow our own laws just to accommodate a former president. The international community will respect us more if we will jail GMA (Arroyo) because we will send a message that we punish those who violate our laws,” said Kabataan Representative Raymond Palatino in a press conference of militant lawmakers.
Palatino said that Arroyo was a “special criminal” facing very serious cases such as electoral fraud, plunder and human rights violations which does not mean she deserved special treatment.
“House arrest is a double standard. It is a rest, it is not arrest,’’ said Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan.
Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano said everybody should be equal in the eyes of the law, including punishment whether he or she is a farmer or a former president.
Palatino chided the Arroyo camp for having the “gall” to cite humane treatment in demanding a house arrest for the former president.
“We should recognize that putting her behind bars in a regular jail is within the bounds of what is just and humane, unlike the experience of thousands of human rights victims under her watch who suffered far worse including illegal arrest, abduction, torture and even summary execution,” he said.
Palatino, Ilagan and Mariano and other militant lawmakers—Representatives Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna), Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela), and Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers)–want to block any attempt to give special treatment to Arroyo, including her request for house arrest.
Militant lawmakers have filed House Resolution 1942 seeking the immediate detention of Arroyo in an ordinary jail “just like any other person accused of a non-bailable offense.”
The resolution was signed by Casiño, Colmenares, Ilagan, De Jesus, Mariano, Palatino and Tinio.
In their resolution, the seven lawmakers protested the special treatment accorded to Arroyo since her arrest last November 18–the court’s agreement to let her stay in hospital; the government’s declaration it would not oppose her hospital arrest; and the police’s refusal to release her mug shots.
Since her doctors have declared that Arroyo was fit to leave the hospital, contrary to her lawyers’ claims that her condition has worsened, the seven lawmakers opposed her petition for house arrest which they feared could “turn out to ‘detention’ in a mansion or rest house, giver her huge wealth and property.”
“Such forms of accommodation so early in the process of the case constitute special treatment given to Mrs. Arroyo and are unacceptable for they only show how the powerful and the rich continue to be given preferential treatment despite the terrible crimes for which they are accused of. It casts a negative impression of the country’s justice system, akin to the ‘wang-wang’ mentality the President so often refers to when talking about the abuses of the previous administration,” said the signatories of the resolution.
“Just like any other person charged with a capital offense, Mrs. Arroyo should be jailed in a regular detention cell while her case is being heard,” they said.