PAMPANGA, Philippines – As former President and now reelectionist Pampanga 2nd District Representative Glorioa Macapagal Arroyo turns 69, a presidential candidate she is believed to be supporting in the May polls wishes two things for her: good health and freedom.

“Sana po ay gumaling na sa lalong madaling panahon ang ating pangulo at sana matapos na ho ang kanyang kaso,” Vice President Jejomar Binay told reporters on Monday, April 4, during his 3rd visit to Pampanga since the start of the official campaign period.

(I hope our former president gets well soon and I wish her case would be resolved.)

Arroyo, who is under house arrest for plunder charges over the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds while she was president, is celebrating her birthday on Tuesday, April 5.

The Supreme Court allowed her to spend her birthday at her residence in Quezon City from April 4 to 6. 

Arroyo has been detained at the presidential suite of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since shortly after she stepped down in 2010. Hearings for her case before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan have been suspended for nearly half a year now.

In October 2015, the The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) released an opinion that Arroyo’s continued detention “violates international law” and is “arbitrary on a number of grounds.”

“Matagal na hong nakabinbin ‘yun. Iyon pong motion to bail ay sana medisyunan na,” said Binay, whose presidential bid some allies of Arroyo in Central Luzon are backing (The case has long been pending. I hope the motion for bail would be decided on already.)

Binay and Arroyo used to be political foes – he was among Arroyo’s staunchest critics over corruption scandals and allegations of election fraud in 2004. 

Binay also used to be the campaign manager of the actor Fernando Poe Jr, from whom Arroyo supposedly stole the presidency 12 years ago. 

Poe’s daughter, Senator Grace Poe, is now one of Binay’s strongest opponents in the 2016 presidential race.

Does Binay plan to attend Arroyo’s birthday celebration on Tuesday? He said no.

“Nakapagpaabot na ako ng aking birthday greetings,” he said. (I already asked someone to extend my birthday greetings to her.) – Rappler.com