Erap to Rody: Grant house arrest for GMA

MANILA, Philippines - Reelected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada appealed yesterday to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte to make good his campaign promise that he would allow detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be placed under house arrest.

Estrada said the Supreme Court should grant Arroyo’s petition for house arrest, citing her health condition.

During the campaign, Duterte said he was in favor of house arrest for Arroyo.

Duterte said he would not object if the court would approve Arroyo’s appeal.

Arroyo, who won her third and last term in the House of Representatives, has been detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since 2011.

The ailing 69-year-old former president is on trial for plunder in connection with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund anomaly.

Arroyo is also facing electoral sabotage case before the Pasay City regional trial court.

Estrada said Arroyo should be placed under house arrest for humanitarian reasons.

“She is not a flight risk,” Estrada said.  

The mayor lamented that outgoing President Aquino continues to ignore appeals for house arrest for Arroyo.

Arroyo granted pardon to Estrada in October 2007.

Estrada expressed hope that the incoming Duterte administration would have sympathy for Arroyo.

Last week, Arroyo asked the high court to rule on her petition for house arrest.