Lawyer hopeful UN would act on GMA case

MANILA, Philippines - International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has expressed optimism that the case she filed before the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for and on behalf of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be acted upon favorably by the world body.

The STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa said Clooney, wife of Hollywood star George Clooney, was able to present before the UN body the case of Arroyo, in hospital arrest without bail despite her frail health and the weak evidence on the plunder complaint filed against her.

“Despite a hectic schedule flying back and forth from Hollywood and London for her wedding to famous actor George Clooney, Amal continued her work to bring GMA’s (Arroyo) continued imprisonment to the attention of the world body,” Pedrosa said in her column on Saturday.

“This is a breakthrough not just for the human rights of a former president of the Philippines and its international repercussion but it can set a train of other human rights violations of Filipinos that have not had the benefit of redress available through the world body,” she said.

Pedrosa said Arroyo’s case would be an important precedent for the Philippines.

Arroyo, who turns 68 on April 5, was accused of the plunder of funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office along with other former PCSO officials in an alleged conspiracy. Her lawyers, however, have pointed out most of her co-accused have been granted bail and government prosecutors have presented only one witness – a member of the current PCSO board – who admitted having no direct knowledge of the charges.

Pedrosa said Clooney’s case for Arroyo was submitted to the UN body under a special procedure but did not elaborate.

The complaint filed before the HRC’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention last Feb. 26 was drafted by Clooney and lawyers Modesto Ticman Jr. and Larry Gadon, who are both Arroyo’s lawyers in the country.

Gadon said he and Ticman had a teleconference with Clooney a few days before the filing of the complaint and the latter expressed optimism on the outcome of the case.

“She said she will inform us as soon as there will be a response,” Gadon told The STAR.

Gadon, however, declined to give more details, saying he will still have to get clearance from Arroyo.

Arroyo is also facing graft charges concerning the botched $329-million national broadband network deal.

Clooney had handled the case of Cambodia v Thailand, regarding a request for interpretation of the Judgment of June 15, 1962 in the case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear. – With Rhodina Villanueva