On Friday afternoon, a warrant for the arrest for former president and Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was issued by the Pasay Regional Trial Court branch 112, for electoral fraud.
Justice secretary Leila de Lima said during a press conference that, “In light of this recent development, the issues surrounding the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court have become moot and academic. Thus, Mrs. Arroyo is compelled to stay in the country, and face the charges of electoral sabotage filed against her, bringing us closer to uncovering the truth behind the controversies surrounding the 2007 elections.”
She added that President Benigno Aquino III, who is currently in Bali on official business, had told her that Arroyo is to be treated “with the utmost respect and courtesy.”
“For a legal proceeding that has great implications, not just to the integrity of our electoral system, but also to the very principles of our nation’s democracy, it is our desire that truth and accountability prevail, and that the Filipino people are finally given the justice they truly deserve,” De Lima said.
Supreme Court administrator Midas Marquez said during another press conference that the TRO still stands but currently only applies to Arroyo’s husband Mike Arroyo. The former president on the other hand, is effectively barred from leaving the country.
GMA News also reports over Twitter that the Arroyos have cancelled their flight to Singapore which was scheduled for later this afternoon.
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado is a Content Strategist with over 16 years experience in blogging, content management, citizen advocacy and media literacy and over 26 years in web development. Otherwise known as @MomBlogger on social media, she believes in making a difference in the lives of her children by advocating social change for social good.
She is a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Blog Watch . She is a resource speaker on media literacy, social media , blogging, digital citizenship, good governance, transparency, parenting, women’s rights and wellness, and cyber safety.
Her personal blogs such as aboutmyrecovery.com (parenting) , pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com (gadgets) and benguetarabica.coffee keep her busy outside of Blog Watch.
Disclosure:
I am an advocate. I am NOT neutral. I will NOT give social media mileage to members of political clans, epal, a previous candidate for the same position and those I believe are a waste of taxpayers' money.
I do not support or belong to any political party. I was part of accredited media covering the Office of the Vice President and Leni Robredo as she ran as a presidential aspirant in the 2022 National and local elections.
On August 5, 2021, YouTube announced that I was selected as one of 50 Program participants of its Creator Program for Independent Journalists
She was a Senior Consultant for ALL media engagements for the PCOO-led Committee on Media Affairs & Strategic Communications (CMASC) under the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council from January 4 -July 5, 2017. Having been an ASEAN advocate since 2011, she has written extensively about the benefits of the ASEAN community and as a region of opportunities on Blog Watch and aboutmyrecovery.com.
Organization affiliation includes Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation
Updated June 6, 2022