AFTER taking a flight to Hong Kong and skipping President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was not spared from protests.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) in Hong Kong conducted a protest rally against her. In a statement, the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) said there is no place for Arroyo in Hong Kong especially with the ushering of a new administration.
“GMA’s place is not in a hotel or in Hong Kong, but in jail,” said UNIFIL-HK chairperson Dolores Balladares.
For her part, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)–HK country officer Norman Carnay said the actions of Arroyo are hardly surprising as this had been the similar scenario during her nine-year tenure.
“It is her trademark: to fly off somewhere and turn tails when the heat of her crimes is bearing down on her,” said Carnay.
On Sunday, Arroyo left the country to accompany her husband, Mike Arroyo, for a medical check-up in Hong Kong.
This would make her unable to attend the first state address of Aquino, where it is expected that the Chief Executive would bare numerous anomalies that happened during the term of Arroyo.
Balladres said Aquino should make sure that making Arroyo accountable should not be forgotten in his long to-do-list.
This was seconded by Carnay, who said Arroyo’s crimes against the people should be brought before justice as soon as possible.
“Long has GMA evaded protests and prosecution. We look forward to the time when GMA comes back to the Philippines with handcuffs waiting for her. We urge Pnoy to do this soon,” the group said. (AMN/Sunnex)