Lawyer sees Arroyo becoming Aquino’s punching bag in SONA

MANILA, Philippines—The lawyer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expects his client to be the “punching bag” of President Benigno Aquino III with more than 90 percent of his State of the Nation Address on Monday devoted to blaming the past administration for his shortcomings.

Lawyer Raul Lambino said the Pampanga representative felt it was better for her to skip this year’s SONA since it would be “predictably hostile” to her.

“She (Arroyo) has been their punching bag in the 2007 and 2010 elections and now in the SONA. We believe that more than 90 percent of the speech will be against her. This is overkill,” said Lambino in a phone interview.

Lambino said Arroyo was never as “vindictive” as this administration to its predecessor as she only touched on the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada just once in her nine SONAs as she left the business of prosecuting Estrada to the Ombudsman (he was convicted but quickly pardoned by Arroyo).

Aside from Arroyo, her sons – Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo – and brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo are not expected to attend Monday’s SONA, according to Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong.

Lambino said President Aquino has found it convenient to focus on the past due to his failure to present a long-term vision of his administration and to cover up for the drop in investor confidence and worsening social problems of hunger and unemployment.
He said that allegations of poll fraud of massive corruption against Arroyo have not been backed up by concrete evidence. “These are general allegations based on command responsibility. If she plundered the country, where is her accumulated wealth? Who are the cronies who acted as her dummies?” asked Lambino who has advised Arroyo to keep silent on these allegations.