Source: GMA News
Former President Gloria Arroyo’s predecessor, Joseph Estrada, told local media on Saturday that Arroyo’s arrest was “karma” and he hoped her health would recover so she could face the charges.
“She should be made accountable not only for electoral sabotage but also corruption,” he said from Singapore.
In an interview on Saturday noontime on GMA News’ Balitanghali, Estrada also said he hopes Arroyo can recover soonest so she can face the charges against her.
“Hindi natutulog ang Panginoong Diyos. Alam niya ang dapat gawin sa nangyayari sa ating bansa,” he said.
‘Don’t compare us’
Estrada said the Filipino people are aware of the “offenses” Arroyo had committed, ranging from stealing the presidency to cheating in the 2004 and 2008 elections.
He said Arroyo will also have to answer to charges of corruption, such as the P728-million fertilizer fund mess and the $329.48-million ZTE broadband deal scam.
“Diyos ko, alam ng sambayanang Pilipino kung anong ginawa niya. Nang-agaw ng pwesto, nandaya sa 2004 election pati ang mahal na kaibiigan ko hindi nakaupo … Sa 2007 nandaya para manalo ang partido niya,” he said.
“Sa madaling salita hindi lang electoral sabotage o pandaraya sa election kundi sa corruption (She should be made accountable not only for electoral sabotage but also corruption),” he added.
Estrada also insisted there was no basis to compare him and Arroyo, even though both were arrested shortly after stepping down from power.
He also said the Arroyo administration repeatedly offered to have him go abroad in exchange for dropping charges against him, but he refused.
Estrada said people should pray that Arroyo’s health is restored so she can face the charges against her.
“Ang akin lang pagdasal natin siya na talagang kanyang kalusugan para lahat na kaso at paratang na laban sa kanya maharap niya. Lahat ng public officials are accountable to the Filipino people. Kailangan ipaliwanag niya kung anong masasabi niya sa paratang laban sa kanya,” he said.
Hospital arrest
Estrada favored hospital arrest for Arroyo. “Puwede siguro pabayaan sa hospital arrest,” he said.
Saying the case is now in court, Malacañang said it will let the Pasay City court decide on where arrested former President Gloria Arroyo will be detained.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte declined to comment on whether the Palace would prefer that Arroyo stay at a government-run hospital.
“That will be a matter that will be resolved if and when lawyers of the former president move to with the presiding judge, with the court. Everything that happens from hereon is officially under jurisdiction and discretion of Judge (Jesus) Mupas,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
Valte was responding to a question on whether the Palace would prefer that Arroyo be detained at a government hospital.
Arroyo was arrested Friday evening over charges of electoral sabotage. She has been staying at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City since Tuesday night.
“Klaro ang nangyari kahapon the former president was in the hospital for her medical condition, ‘yan ang very clear, she was in the hospital because of her condition,” Valte said.
Arroyo has not been seen in public since Tuesday night, when, following the initial Supreme Court decision to lift her travel ban, she had turned up at the airport in a wheelchair and her neck in a brace.
The government stopped her and her husband from boarding a flight and she has since been in the hospital, where she was formally arrested on Friday.
On Monday, the Pasay City court that issued her arrest warrant will hear a separate petition to issue a hold departure order, which could permanently prevent Arroyo from leaving the country. — with Reuters/ELR, GMA News
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