Weekly hearing on GMA bail bid set

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers of detained former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are preparing for legal battle over her petition to post bail.

Arroyo’s counsel Benjamin Santos yesterday said that a weekly hearing on their petition to fix bail has been scheduled by Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on March 15, 22 and 29.

“We are now preparing to counter all the evidence and witnesses to be presented by the prosecution,” he said.

Santos said the prosecution must convince the court that they have a strong case by presenting evidence and witnesses to block the petition for bail for Arroyo, who is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City where she is undergoing treatment for her spinal ailment.

During a recent hearing on the petition for bail, lead prosecutor Esmeralda Ladra told Judge Mupas that they have strong evidence and witnesses to prove conspiracy in the electoral sabotage case filed against the former president and her co-accused former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election officer Lintang Bedol.

Electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense.

The government prosecutors have asked the court to give them enough time so that they could prepare their witnesses and evidence to back up their opposition to Arroyo’s bail petition.

Santos, however, argued before the court that under the Constitution, every accused has the right to bail and the former president is invoking this right.

He said every accused, even those facing capital offense which carries the penalty of life in prison, has the right to bail if there is no strong evidence of guilt.

Santos said the right to bail of every accused is enshrined in the Constitution, particularly in the bill of rights that is implemented in the rules of criminal procedures. An accused has the right to temporary liberty more so if there is no strong evidence of guilt.

Santos said there is no strong evidence that will link the former president to the alleged tampering of votes during the May 2007 midterm election in Maguindanao.

The motion to fix bail was the first legal move from the camp of Arroyo after she pleaded not guilty to the electoral sabotage charges last month.

Meanwhile, Arroyo attended yesterday the funeral Mass for her late brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo at their ancestral home at La Vista subdivision in Quezon City.

Media were barred from the Mass but her spokesman Ferdinand Topacio said the former president was sad that this would be the last time she would see the remains of her brother-in law.

The 60-year-old lawmaker died of heart attack last Jan. 26 in a London hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for cirrhosis of the liver as an outpatient.

Topacio said after Iggy’s remains were brought out from La Vista on the way to the North Cemetery for burial, the former president returned to the VMMC.

Iggy laid to rest

The remains of Iggy were laid to rest beside the tomb of his mother Lourdes Zaragoza Tuason at the family mausoleum in North Cemetery.

Philippine National Police honor guards carried the flag-draped casket and policemen fired a 21-gun salute as Iggy’s remains were buried at the Tuason-Arroyo family mausoleum.

Relatives and friends applauded as the late lawmaker’s casket was finally slid inside the tomb at around 1 p.m.

Reports said at least 100 policemen were stationed at the cemetery to secure the funeral.

Braving the afternoon heat at the funeral were Iggy’s estranged wife Alicia Rita “Aleli” Arroyo and daughter Alelu; Bianca and Dina, Iggy’s daughters with his first wife Marilyn Jacinto.

Iggy was with his long-time companion Grace Ibuna when he died in London.

Ibuna was also present at the funeral.

Aleli and Grace have been quarreling over Iggy’s remains since his death.

Aleli received the ceremonial flag from the policemen before the casket was entered into the tomb. Aleli later turned the flag over to Bianca.

His elder brother, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and sister Marilou also attended the funeral.

Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Luli Arroyo-Bernas were also present.

The burial came after the wake held at the Arroyo family’s ancestral home in La Vista, Quezon City. The remains were also transferred to his conjugal house with Aleli, also in La Vista, as well as to his district in Negros Occidental.

Necrological services were also held at the House of Representatives last week.

At the funeral Mass, Dina and Bianca were seen comforting Alelu when the latter broke down as people delivered eulogies to their father.

Alelu promised her father that she would spend more time with her elder sisters. She later sang, “Because You Loved Me” for her father. – With Paolo Romero