Critic Sen. Lacson now sympathizes with prisoner Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Panfilo Lacson, himself once a fugitive from the law, has only sympathy for former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  One of her staunchest critics, Lacson wants authorities to treat her with “dignity” and “humaneness.”

Lacson commended the Pasay City Regioal Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas for allowing a hospital arrest for Arroyo, who has been charged with the unbailable crime of election sabotage.

“The judge must be commended for allowing hospital arrest for ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. That’s the Christian way to treat her and any other sick respondent for that matter,” he said in a text message on Monday.

“No matter how bad she (Arroyo) ruled the country during her time, she is entitled to be treated like we should any other Filipino – that is with dignity and humaneness,” he said.

“Justice can still be served as it must be served properly but the humanitarian aspect of this whole issue must be upheld and it has nothing to do with rendering justice,” Lacson added.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged Arroyo to just face the charges lodged against her instead of raising technicalities.

Escudero defended the filing of the case in court by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying it was in accordance with the law.

“Whatever questions Arroyo (or former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo) may raise against the joint panel is now moot having been overtaken by events and given the curative action, on its own, by the Comelec,” he said, referring to the Arroyo camp’s move to question the legality of the joint probe of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Comelec.
“The Comelec-DoJ (panel) was only fact-finding. It was Comelec alone that deliberated on the existence of probable cause to merit the filing of the case, not the DoJ. This is in accordance with the law,” he said.

“Instead of raising technicalities, GMA (Arroyo’s initial) should take advantage of the opportunity given her to prove her innocence, if indeed she is innocent, and face the charges leveled against her squarely and on the merits,” Escudero added.—Maila Ager