Akbayan to Arroyo camp: Stop whining

MANILA, Philippines—Stop whining. This was the advice of Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello over the latest rantings from the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her impending transfer to the government’s Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City from the private St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig.

Bello said Arroyo’s latest TV interview showed clearly that she was faking her illness and that she should be detained in a regular jail.

“I would have made the same protestations of innocence were I in GMA’s place. The hospital arrest is, in fact, an act of leniency on the part of the administration since her medical condition is very dubious, and the government gave her the benefit of the doubt,” said Bello in a text message. “It is high time GMA stops complaining and squarely face the charges against her.”

Bello and other militant lawmakers have insisted that Arroyo should be treated like other arrested persons with “minimal” consideration to her status as a lawmaker and former President.