MANILA, Philippines—Why is former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the “most powerful president in history?”
Because she is the cause of all the woes of President Benigno Aquino, former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo wrote on Facebook.
With this, Mr. Arroyo called for an extension of Aquino’s term “so he can blame the strong president more.”
This despite the fact the now Pampanga representative has been “in detention for more than three years in a 18 square meter hospital room, with very limited visiting hours, no cellphones and computers, allowed only to walk for one hour a day, denied bail several times, denied access to external medical attention, furloughs…,” Mr. Arroyo wrote.
“(The former President) is constantly being blamed for record breaking corruption (through) misuse of billions of public funds, worsening poverty and hunger, rampant killing of journalists, MRT-LRT malfunctions, flash floods and monstrous traffic, non-inclusive economic growth, absence of any worthwhile infrastructure development, rapid increase of crime rate in key cities,” he said.
Mr. Arroyo continued: “all these are caused by an ailing grandmother restricted by hospital detention that miraculously rendered an administration that controls all institutions helpless and immobilized for more than four years.”
Arroyo’s post earned almost 200 likes as of posting time with shares from 37 people.
Under the Facebook status were comments from Arroyo’s contacts admiring the 67-year-old former President and bashing Aquino.
Facebook user Vic R. Ruales commented on the post, saying Aquino’s habit of blaming Arroyo is “sickening and nauseating.”
“PNoy’s blame game is sickening & nauseating to say the least. Nobody is buying yet he continues to do so for years now. This speaks volumes of how he was raised in his family totally devoid of good manners & right conduct. Or is his case purely a mental thing that’s why it’s beyond his control?” Ruales wrote.
Meanwhile, for netizen Daniel Mather, Mrs. Arroyo’s “preference of silence” against her detractors amazes him.
“Her gentleness under persecution is the true hallmark of a graceful leader under pressure….and needless to say, sterling breeding,” Mather added.
Mrs. Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) after a Pasay court issued a warrant of arrest against her in 2011 over plunder charges.