‘Kabalen’ await Arroyo, hope house arrest bid OKd

ARROYO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Town mates of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now on her second term as congresswoman of Pampanga, are hoping the Sandiganbayan would approve her motion to be put on house arrest in her house in Lubao town.

But as of Friday, no teams from the Sandiganbayan came to do an ocular inspection of Arroyo’s house in Barangay (village) San Nicolas I, according to Ria Tiongco, the congresswoman’s staff who was at the house.

Arroyo’s lawyers, who were instructed by the antigraft court on Thursday to submit photographs of the house, have yet to take pictures either.

The house is located across a Catholic school beside the St. Augustine Church where her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, was baptized.

She has been attending Masses there before she joined the government or ran for public office.

The house, which stands on a 500-square meter lot, is secured by a tall gate. A smaller gate at the back leads to a large receiving area.

When she was released on bail in July 2012 for an electoral sabotage case, well-wishers gathered there. The house is modest, separated from the receiving area by the maids’ quarters. A small garden beside the garage is perfect for sunning.

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