‘Pray, forgive’: Arroyo urged not to file raps vs accusers

The erstwhile election lawyer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday urged her to just forgive and pray for her accusers, as she is set to walk free from four years of detention following a favorable Supreme Court ruling.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Arroyo, who is now Pampanga Representative, should not file charges against her accusers, after her legal team said they were mulling to make such a move.

“Hindi na dapat magdemanda si ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo laban sa mga taong nag-akusa sa kanya. Dapat ipanalangin na lamang niya ang mga ito at patawarin sa kanilang mga kasalanan sa kanya. Hayaan na lang niya ang konsensiya ng mga ito upang sila ay mabagabag sa mga ginawa nilang kasalanan,” Macalintal said in a statement.

Macalintal said Arroyo should just make use of her freedom to rest and spend more time with her family.

“Bilang isang Kristiyano at tunay na naniniwala sa Diyos ako ay naniniwala na si GMA ay marunong magpatawad at umunawa kaya di siya dapat tumulad sa mga nag-akusa sa kanya na parang mga walang pusong marunong magmahal at umunawa sa kapwa. Ipaubaya na lang ni GMA sa Diyos ang dapat mangyari sa mga nagkasala sa kanya,” he added.

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday ordered Arroyo’s release in deference to the Supreme Court’s decision acquitting her of plunder charges over alleged misuse of state lottery funds.

Arroyo was arrested in 2011 on electoral fraud charges in connection with the 2007 elections but was allowed bail in 2012. But before she could be freed, the Sandiganbayan ordered her arrest on charges of plunder involving alleged misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office when she was President./rga