Comelec still to discuss Arroyo’s prison facility

Saturday, December 10, 2011

PUTTING former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an ordinary detention center has yet to be discussed by the lawyers of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the agency that filed an electoral sabotage case against her last month.

It will be premature to comment on proposals of militant groups for the government to immediately place Arroyo behind bars once she fully recuperates from her bone disease, according to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

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"I can’t say (if the prosecution panel will request the court to that effect). I think the panel will cross that bridge when we get to it," he told Sun.Star.

The Pasay City Regional Trial Court branch 112 has yet to resolve motions filed by the Arroyo camp for her to be placed under house arrest but even her detention at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) had already raised suspicions of special treatment.

Even the former occupant of the spacious presidential suite, ex-President Joseph Estrada, was surprised with the government’s efforts to renovate the facility just to please the Arroyo camp.

Estrada, a convicted plunderer, however said Arroyo should stay in the hospital while undergoing trial due to her status as a former leader and a woman.

But in case Arroyo will be transferred to an ordinary detention cell, a makeshift room at the Southern Police District (SPD) headquarters in Taguig City is already ready to receive the former president.

The room, measuring 12 square meters, has a folding bed and beddings and a kitchen sink with water supply.

The SPD had said it will replace the air-conditioning unit since the current one is already old.

Arroyo ended her weeks-long confinement at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City on a rainy Friday after Judge Jesus Mupas told the police to do so.

Despite criticisms, Malacañang maintained that Arroyo was not accorded special treatment as they asked the public to wait for the court to rule on the pending motions including the request for house arrest.

"That will be entirely dependent on what the Comelec prosecution panel wants. At present, there were considerations (given by the court) because of the condition of her health," Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Valte also advised the former First Gentleman to seek permission from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after he expressed intentions to stay with her at the VMMC.

"We will leave that to the PNP. Mrs. Arroyo is in the custody of the PNP. As such, police have full responsibility and they should be given full discretion on what to do," she said.

For his part, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. told Sun.Star that the former First Gentleman will only be limited to conjugal visits. He declined to elaborate.

A conjugal visit allows the legal spouse of an inmate to spend several hours a day with him/her. (Sunnex)