Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s constituents want her in Lubao

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines—Quiet since July, several organizations in Pampanga finally broke their silence on the situation of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a representative of the province’s second district.

And when they did, their lone appeal was for a court to order a house arrest on Arroyo in Lubao, her father’s hometown.

Initiated by the Pampanga Mayors’ League, the manifesto was also signed by leaders of federations of Sangguniang Kabataan presidents, Associations of Barangay Councils presidents and senior citizen groups.

Village councils in the second district towns of Sasmuan, Sta. Rita, Lubao, Guagua, Floridablanca and Porac signed the manifesto.

The signatories included the Pampanga Agricultural and Fishery Council, Kalipunan ng Malayang Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and village officials.

The manifesto would be submitted by Arroyo’s lawyers as a petition before a Pasay City regional trial court where she has been charged with electoral sabotage, said Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, PML president.

However, Arroyo has preferred house arrest in her house in upscale La Vista subdivision in Quezon City.

Arroyo, the signatories said, was “nonetheless entitled to her constitutional rights to health and well being, as well as to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.”

“Considering her debilitating sickness, age, gender and stature as former president, vice president and senator and now representative of the second district of Pampanga, we believe [Arroyo] is entitled to a compassionate and humanitarian treatment while charges against her are being heard,” they said.

They said they were “equally interested in the search for truth and justice on all accusations leveled against her,” and support her house arrest in Lubao.

Arroyo built the Lubao house beside the St. Augustine Church in Barangay San Nicolas II shortly before the 2010 elections. On her birthdays, she visits the 400-year-old church where her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, was baptized. The 240-square meter compound surrounded by a high fence is about 100 km from Metro Manila.

The signatories said putting Arroyo under house arrest would “contribute to her recovery from her debilitating sickness and would provide her the strength to face all the accusations leveled against her and at the same time allow her to serve her constituents.”