Working CGMA

IT SEEMS that Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo missed her kabalens so much, particularly her constituents at the 2nd district of Pampanga.

Despite her illness, she visited Guagua town last Saturday, shortly after she attended a private mass held at her residence in Barangay San Nicolas, Lubao. With her were Pampanga Mayors’ League president and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, Mayor Condralito Dela Cruz of Porac, Mayor Ric Rivera of Guagua and Mayor Eduardo Guerrero of Floridablanca.

Her visit, despite the poor weather condition, was made only a few days after posting bail. It’s a manifestation of her being a workaholic and being excited to once again be with the people in her district.

She likewise visited the town of Porac, a few hours after her physical therapy session. She wore a blue jacket, her neck support and braces around her body and hips.

The people of Porac were delighted when the former President gave away boxes of plastic raincoats to schoolchildren.

Who says CGMA is not working? She, despite her confinement at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, attends to the needs of her constituents in terms of projects and through the representations of the 2nd district local chief executives.

Meanwhile, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda mentioned that Kapampangans are elated over the release of Congresswoman Macapagal-Arroyo. They are happy too now that Madam GMA can rest with her family and with the people she serves in the district.

After seven months of hospital detention, she was allowed to post a P1-million bail despite the fact that she is being accused of a non-bailable offense. This only proves that the pieces of evidence against her are weak. This is the basis of Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas why she was granted bail.

“Posting bail -- if the evidence to the judicious study of Mupas is weak -- is a matter of right and not a privilege and the judge did the right thing,” so commented Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan, a known ally of Congresswoman Macapagal-Arroyo.

Various reactions came out. For the congresswoman’s political nemeses, they want her to be back under arrest. Heartless as they may seem, it’s a part of the game. For Kapampangans, she is very much welcome in Pampanga.
President Benigno Simeon “PNoy” Aquino III, during his recent State of the Nation Address, stated a cliché that said he is willing to forgive but not forget all those who, for him, have done the government wrong.

How could we move on when he cannot forget those he considers offenders against the government? Those who he means to have committed crimes against the government and the Filipinos are under the jurisdiction of our courts anyway.

Going back to Congresswoman Macapagal-Arroyo and her “homecoming” in Pampanga, she vowed to pursue all her programs and projects at her congressional district. The people in the said district indeed miss her.

Despite her ailments, she is now free to pursue all her plans for the welfare of her constituents. CGMA will always be a Kapampangan.