Update
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Liberal Party senatorial candidates weighed in on the promise of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to release former President Arroyo from detention, with most of them disapproving of the idea.
Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recently had a verbal war with Duterte, maintained that Arroyo could be released if the court decides so.
De Lima said Duterte’s controversial statement was “merely political.”
“The presidential powers can only set in later kapag may conviction na. We can consider presidential pardon but not ‘yung palalayain at this point because the call is now with the court,” she said in an interview at the sendoff of the LP-led “Daang Matuwid” coalition in Capiz.
Campaign ploy?
Like De Lima, Senate President Franklin Drilon thinks it was part of the mayor’s campaign move, especially that Duterte made the promise in his sortie in Pampanga, Arroyo’s hometown.
“Kasama yan sa kampanya, sinabi yan ni Duterte sa Pampanga, kaya it’s expected but as a former prosecutor of the Department of Justice, alam po ni Duterte na ang husgado lang ang pwedeng magpalaya o magbigay ng bail kay Arroyo,” he said.
During his sortie in Pampanga last February 7, the Davao City mayor told a gathering of the group Friends of Rody Duterte that “if I am elected President, I will release her (Arroyo). Why? Because the evidence [against her] is weak. I know that. I am a lawyer.”
Duterte, who served as presidential consultant on public order in Arroyo’s administration, also said Arroyo, like ordinary citizens, was entitled to a speedy trial.
“If [the prosecution] is not ready, every time the case is called for hearing, [the court] should dismiss [the charges] because [the delay also] delays justice,” Duterte said.
While she is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Arroyo also serves as representative of Pampanga’s second district.
De Lima also questioned Duterte’s views on the case of Arroyo, who was arrested in 2011 for allegedly misusing the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds while in office for personal gain, considering he was a former city prosecutor.
“Hindi na nakakapagtaka na medyo may gano’n siyang pananaw. Gaya nga ng usapan sa vigilantes, that’s against the law and itong usaping ito na basta-basta na lang palalayain ang nasasakdal na ongoing pa pending pa ang kaso nasa Supreme Court pa, you cannot also just do that even if you are the president,” she said.
Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Not in President’s hands
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, an adopted candidate of the ruling party, said Duterte cannot just give a commitment that he would allow the release because Arroyo’s fate is not in the hands of the president.
“Kailangang igalang natin ‘yung jurisdiction ng korte na nagta-try ng kaso. Kung sino ka man, si GMA man o dati kong mga kasamahan na senador na nakakulong ngayon, dapat korte yung magsabi kung sila ay tama bang palabasin pansamantala or palayain ng tuluyan,” said Lacson, who was also at the proclamation rally in Capiz.
Meanwhile, reelectionist senator TG Guingona chose to keep mum on the issue.
“No comment muna d’yan,” he told reporters at the LP event.