Sandigan denies Arroyo’s bid to attend brother’s 40th day Mass
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Sandiganbayan denied the request of former President Gloria Arroyo to attend the 40th day Mass, inurnment rites and post-inurnment prayers of her late brother Arturo Macapagal, who died of prostate cancer on Aug. 11.
In a resolution on Wednesday, the antigraft court First Division said it found no merit to allow Arroyo, under hospital detention for plunder, to attend her brother’s 40th day Mass.
The court said Arroyo “cannot be allowed the full enjoyment of her rights, be it civil or political.”
“The inherent and consequent restraints in some of her rights [do] not run counter to the constitutional presumption of her innocence, for the rule stands that until a promulgation of final conviction is made, the constitutional mandate of presumption of innocence prevails,” the resolution read.
The court sided with the prosecution, which said there is no need for Arroyo to attend the Mass at Heritage Memorial Park because she may recite her prayers in her detention place at Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
READ: Arroyo attends burial of brother Arturo Macapagal
Arroyo was earlier allowed by the court to attend her brother’s burial and wake.
Arroyo has been under hospital detention for plunder over the alleged misuse of at least P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds for personal gain from 2008 to 2010. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/RAM
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