Aquino handling of Arroyo case ‘a bit of a mess’

MANILA, Philippines—A “bit of a mess” was how Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. described the administration’s handling of the case of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“It’s a bit of a mess. Hindi maayos ang kanilang pag ha-handle. Unang-una, kung gusto nilang i-prosecute si GMA (Arroyo initial) bakit hindi sila nag file kaso? It’s been one year and six months na nakaupo na si President Aquino, bakit ang tagal-tagal na kinasuhan,” Marcos told reporters in the Senate on Tuesday.

“Kung kinasuhan nila nang mas maaga, lahat ng gulong ito hindi na nangyari. None of these problems would have occurred,” he said.

The senator was reacting to the non-bailable offense of electoral sabotage filed against Arroyo only last Friday and the subsequent issuance of a warrant of arrest against her.

“I’m just a little bit surprised that none of the legal advisers who claimed to be brilliant, legal minds were able to figure it out and in the end, we ended with this mess in front of us which us bringing out slowly to a constitutional crisis,” Marcos said.

Marcos also expressed disappointment at how orders of the Supreme Court are no longer being respected and followed under the present administration.

“I was in opposition for more than nine years during the presidency of [Arroyo] and so it has also been my view that many of the abuses and wrongdoings that occurred should be accounted for. However, it’s also dismaying to see that orders of the Supreme Court are no longer respected and followed. This strikes at the very heart of our legal system,” he said.

And while he agreed that there abuses during the Arroyo regime, Marcos believes Aquino was getting personal in pursuing the former leader.

“Yes, the administration is and has been getting very personal. Kasama na rin kami don,” said the senator, who has openly attacked the Aquino government after it rejected a state burial for his father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.