Sandigan Bayan Allows Arroyo in Hospital Arrest

For humanitarian considerations, the Sandiganbayan First Division granted the hospital arrest of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was charged with plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

In its eight-page resolution, the anti-graft court said it granted the hospital arrest in view of the physical condition of Mrs. Arroyo and her need to undergo continuing intensive physical therapy three times a week at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and on account of the withdrawal of the prosecution of its opposition to the urgent motion.

Earlier, Prosecutor Disodado V Calonge manifested that the prosecution was already withdrawing its opposition to the urgent motion of the accused for hospital arrest.

The resolution was signed by Justice Efren dela Cruz, First Division chairperson, and Justices Rodoldo A. Ponferrada and Rafael R Lagos.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo thanked her supporters, well-wishers and even the Sandiganbayan in a message posted on the social network “Tweeter” before the anti-graft court ordered her barred from using computers and other telecommunications devices while under hospital arrest.

Through her staff, Mrs. Arroyo “tweeted” “thank you’s” to those who greeted her and offered prayers for her swift recuperation. Her staff also extended thanks for the Sandiganbayan’s order granting her motion for hospital arrest.

The anti-graft court allowed Mrs. Arroyo to be detained at the same hospital suite at the VMMC where she was previously held following her arrest on an election offense last year.

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Ex-President Arroyo Is Out Of Jail

Wearing a neck brace to support her spine that is weakened from a rare disease, Arroyo left a tightly guarded military hospital in Manila where she had been awaiting trial on the charge that could see her jailed for life.

The granting of bail appeared a major setback for her successor, Benigno Aquino, who has said that bringing Arroyo to justice for crimes she allegedly committed while in power is crucial to his high-profile anti-graft campaign.

Aquino won the 2010 presidential elections in a landslide after campaigning to wipe out corruption that he said crippled Philippine society during the nearly 10 years Arroyo was in power.
Arroyo's spokesman, Ferdinand Topacio, described the ruling on Wednesday morning from a Manila court as "a triumph of justice and a resounding denial of dictatorship" that proved her earlier assertions of innocence.

"It is a reaffirmation of what our camp has been saying all along," Topacio said, before borrowing from a quote by former US president Abraham Lincoln.

"That the charges against the former president are as thin as the soup made from boiling the shadow of a chicken that has been starved to death."

Arroyo, 65, was arrested at an exclusive hospital in November last year shortly after immigration authorities blocked her at Manila airport from leaving the country.

Aquino had said Arroyo was trying to flee the country to escape imminent charges against her, although she said she needed specialist treatment overseas for her spinal disease.

Arroyo was charged shortly after with "electoral sabotage" for allegedly conspiring with a feared political warlord to rig the 2007 senatorial elections.

She was then transferred to the military hospital, where she had been detained while awaiting trial. No date has yet been set for the start of the trial, which could take years to complete.

read the rest of the story at MSN

Former First Gentleman Charged of Corruption

Graft charges were filed Thursday against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the purchase by the PNP of two used choppers in 2009.

Also charged were 16 PNP officers.

In the complaint filed by three senators, Arroyo and his co-respondents were accused of conspiring with each other in defrauding the government of P62.67 million through the purchase of two used helicopters passed off as brand-new.

“Jose Miguel Arroyo conspired with the private individuals and officers of the PNP and this conspiracy violates the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Act,’’ the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee stated in its findings, the basis of the complaint.

“It is quite clear that these helicopters were used extensively by the Arroyos during the 2004 elections. From the time these were imported into the Philippines until the time that these were sold to the PNP, the Arroyos used them repeatedly, extensively, and fully. Walang kaduda-duda (No doubt),” Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto L. Guingona III said.

“It is clear that Mike Arroyo, as the true owner of the helicopters, took advantage of the PNP and robbed the Filipino people of 62 million pesos for used helicopters,” Guingona added.

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Did President Gloria Had a 'Boob Job'?

In a recent speech by former President Joseph Estrada to the Manila Medical Society, he jokingly mentioned the controversy of the President having a 'boob job'.

He said, "Sa dinami-dami ng mga dapat na imbestigahan ng NBI ay kung bakit pati ang “boob job” ng Pangulo ay kanilang pinagdidiskitahan." He further added as to why the NBI is continuing to investigate who among the staff of Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa leak the leak to media the 'procedure' done to President Arroyo.

He jokingly added, "Wag n’yo naman dibdibin ang kasong ito. When there are so many cases of killings, ambu­shes, bombings and other heinous crimes that need to be investigated. I hope that no doctor in this assembly tonight is under investigation by the NBI for being talkative and revealing the truth about the very important patient,”.

“Sabagay hindi naman ako kasi pious li­ving. Alam n’yo ba ang ibig sabihin ng pious li­ving? Ibig sabihin noon, ‘paayos nang paayos’. If you are among those saying that I was the one who talked about implants, I hope you do not get qua­rantined for life,” dagdag nito.