Arroyo presses for bail, says she’s too sick to run away

MANILA, Philippines – Should former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo be allowed to post for bail since she is too sick to leave the country?

Arroyo’s legal counsel believes so. In a new argument submitted to court, Arroyo’s defense team said the lawmaker should be released from hospital arrest since she is seriously ill and has no intention of running away from her case. 

Her lawyers Jose Flaminiano, Laurence Hector Arroyo, and Aufelene Anne Laxamana, said Arroyo, now 66 years old, is frail and requires regular therapy even after undergoing 3 operations on her cervical spine.  

Arroyo is facing plunder charges over the alleged misuse of P366 million worth of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. Plunder is a non-bailable offense. 

The motion said: “She has no intention of living the life of a fugitive and her condition precludes her from living the life of a fugitive. President Arroyo, to this day…stands innocent before the law. Unless and until a court of law finds her guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime with which she is charged, she remains innocent.”

The argument supplements an earlier motion entered by her lawyers into the court, which argued that Arroyo should be allowed to post bail because the evidence of the prosecution is weak. 

Should the graft court rule that the evidence of guilt in the case is strong, Arroyo’s counsel said she is still entitled to post bail. The motion cited a 1953 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Montano vs. Ocampo, which held that bail may be granted regardless of a finding that evidence of guilt is strong. – Rappler.com