Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo travel woes ‘karma,’ says Mangudadatu

MANILA, Philippines—Saying it was “karma,” Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu on Wednesday said he also opposed allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to get medical treatment abroad.

Mangudadatu said Arroyo should instead be treated by doctors in the country and not be allowed to leave since she was facing serious charges ranging from electoral sabotage to plunder.

“She should be made accountable for what happened. Karma niya (This is her karma),” said Mangudadatu at the sidelines of the hearing on the Maguindanao massacre case in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.

Mangudadatu lost his wife and other relatives and supporters in the 2009 massacre. The massacre has been blamed on the Ampatuan clan, which had close ties to Arroyo.

“We should remember that it is not just charges of electoral fraud that she’s facing. She has also been accused of plunder,” Mangudadatu said.

Lawyer Nena Santos, the Mangudadatus’ counsel, said she would file a motion to intervene “as a friend of the court” in the Supreme Court case filed by Arroyo lawyers to question the watch list order against her.

Santos said she would file the petition on behalf of her other client Yogi Martirisar, a former election officer of North Cotabato, who was implicated in election fraud during the 2007 election but has now turned state witness.

Santos said Martirisar tried to seek medical treatment abroad for a bone disease but the Arroyo administration turned down her request because she was then under preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice for electoral fraud.

“Even the case was still in preliminary investigation, they denied it. It is so unfair, Gloria trampled on her rights and now Gloria is allowed to leave the country. Where’s the equal protection under the law?” Santos said.

She noted that Arroyo and Martirisar share “almost the same disease” with the latter’s bones also having difficulty in absorbing calcium.