It's up to Comelec to deal with GMA detention - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday it would be up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to consider suggestions not to push for the detention of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a regular jail.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB that President Aquino had reminded authorities to give Arroyo due respect because of her condition and being a woman.

“We will leave it up to the Comelec as to how they will ask the Pasay City RTC (regional trial court) on the detention arrangements,” Valte said.

She said the Palace does not have any say on the detention of Arroyo and it would be up to the former president’s defense lawyers to protest her transfer to a regular detention facility.

“The Comelec is the party in interest,” Valte said.

Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on charges of electoral sabotage.

Prosecution lawyer Jane Valeza said they received information that the former president was already well.

Proof of this is Arroyo’s alleged meetings with members of the House minority in the past few weeks, she said.

“We requested the court to determine her medical condition by summoning the director of Veterans Hospital or her attending physician. If she is well, then she should be transferred to a regular detention facility as soon as possible,” she said.

The lawyer said the government is spending for Arroyo’s hospital detention so it is only prudent to terminate her hospital arrest if it is unnecessary.