In this October 29, 2012 file photo, former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seen with her husband, lawyer Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. TETCH TORRES/INQUIRER.net
MANILA — Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was elated by the Supreme Court decision acquitting his wife, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of plunder and ordering her immediate release.
“Thank God. They took away six years of her life, (she’s) an innocent woman,” said Mike Arroyo in a brief statement.
The former first gentleman thanked his family and friends and local and foreign players for keeping the faith “through the trials brought about by unrelenting prosecution and defamation perpetrated by the previous regime.”
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said they were gravely disappointed with the high court’s decision and blamed the Aquino administration’s ineptitude for failing to pin the former president.
“More could have been done to strengthen the case and make the former president accountable. Unfortunately, it seems that the previous Aquino administration was merely contented in keeping her politically paralyzed in the past six years rather than obtaining a conviction,” said Zarate.
While he considered this a setback, Zarate said that the campaign for accountability and against impunity should be carried out, not only against the Pampanga representative, but also former President Benigno Aquino III and his group. SFM
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