FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is focusing on her health condition and also on her duty as Pampanga congresswoman, according to her lawyer, former justice minister Estelito Mendoza.
Mendoza said he does not encourage Arroyo to file any counter-charge and does not think she has even thought about filing a lawsuit because she is still pre-occupied with her health.
“I am just a lawyer, I do not encourage anything. Now that she has been released, she will be occupied for a while with her health, whether she is okay and can start getting adjusted to a normal life,” Mendoza said.
“We must remember normal life can catch quickly for her after she was elected to the House. That is one of the injustices, not only to her, but the people of second district of Pampanga, they elected her but she was unable to attend sessions in Congress because of this charge,” he said.
Arroyo was finally released on Thursday evening from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, following the promulgation of the Supreme Court’s decision junking the plunder case against her over the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.
On Tuesday, the SC voted 11-4 to acquit the former president.
Copies of the release order were delivered by the Sandiganbayan Sheriff and Security Services office first to the PNP before proceeding to the VMCC.
The Sandiganbayan ordered Arroyo’s arrest in October 2012 – the same month she filed her reelection bid as Pampanga representative – for her involvement in the alleged misuse of Php 366-million in intelligence funds of the PCSO from 2008 to 2010.
Arroyo was implicated based on “marginal notes” on written requests to release the money.
After her arrest, the former president was placed under hospital detention at the VMMC due to “degenerative bone disease.”
On Aug. 27, 2014, Arroyo filed a demurrer to evidence – a plea to dismiss a case on the basis of weak evidence – before the Sandiganbayan but the anti-graft court dismissed this on April 6, 2015.
On Oct. 15, 2015, Arroyo, through Mendoza, asked the High Court to suspend proceedings before the Sandiganbayan and to dismiss the plunder case.