GMA takes oath at VMMC

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and re-elected Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath of office at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City before an activist lawyer that was witnessed by her family and some of her constituents.

Arroyo started her second term as representative of the second district of Pampanga after taking her oath at 11:30 a.m. at the presidential suite of the VMMC where she has been detained since July 2012 on plunder charges.

Administering her oath was lawyer Galileo Angeles, president of the Lawyers of Accountability, Transparency, Integrity and Good Governance.

Witnessing the ceremony was her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo; their son, former party-list congressman Juan Miguel, his wife Angela and their children; and her brother, Arthur.

Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, who left her position as Arroyo’s chief of staff after finding a job in the private sector, was also present at the event. Lawyer Raul Lambino has replaced her.

Her staff and six special guests from her congressional district also witnessed the event, namely Zenaida Arbos, a vendor from Porac; Epelyn Bamba, a teacher from Lubao; Rose Ann de Mesa, a student from Guagua; Rodante Pascual, president of the farmers-irrigators association of Floridablanca; Alexis Jay Sapno, a nurse from Sasmuan, and Romulo Valencia, head of the tricycle drivers association of Sta. Rita.

Reporters were allowed to cover the event in compliance with a directive from Sandiganbayan that hears her case.

The former leader obtained nearly 90 percent of the votes in the elections last May 13.

During the 15th Congress, Arroyo authored bills that were enacted into law, such as the anti-drunk and drugged driving law.