GMA urged: Give up House seat

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should give up her seat at the House of Representatives, an activist lawmaker said today.

"Sa dami ng kasong nakahayin sa kanya ay hindi na siya makakapag-function," Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said.

Casiño said that Mrs. Arroyo would be doing her constituents in Pampanga's 2nd District and her colleagues in the House a favor if she will allow another lawmaker to act as caretaker of her seat.

The activist lawmaker, however, said that they can only ask Mrs. Arroyo to resign, not force her because she has not been convicted of any charge.

He added that the charges filed against Mrs. Arroyo are all alleged violations committed when she was still the country's president.

"There is a rule that what you did in your previous term could not be used as basis for your expulsion. The House leadership cannot expel her without conviction," the lawmaker said.

Mrs. Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City, where she was served with a warrant of arrest in connection with the electoral sabotage case filed by the Commission on Elections last Friday.

The former president is also facing six plunder complaints filed before the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

A report by GMA News, quoting Presidential Political Affairs Adviser Ronald Llamas, said that Malacañang is eyeing at filing 20 cases against the former president.

Casiño said that with the all charges against Mrs. Arroyo she will be incapable of functioning for her constituents in Pampanga.

"Mae-engross na siya sa pagharap dito sa isang kaso pa lang na pinag-uusapan natin na electoral sabotage," he added.

House Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada said yesterday that he would propose that Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo be named caretaker of Pampanga’s second district while Mrs. Arroyo is under arrest.

Tañada said that the House leadership cannot expel the former president prior to her conviction on the charges leveled against her.

“Mikey is the former representative of that district. He is the logical choice for caretaker,” he said. Like his mother, Mikey is a member of the House, representing security guards and tricycle drivers grouped under the party-list organization Ang Galing Pinoy.

Mikey left for the United States before his mother was arrested last Friday. He himself is facing charges for alleged tax evasion.

“The filing of an electoral sabotage case against her cannot be the basis to expel her. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty or until she pleads guilty to the crime,” he said.