After four years in hospital detention for plunder, former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been ordered released by the Supreme Court which dismissed the charges against her for "insufficiency of evidence."
The 69 year-old congresswoman has suffered long enough in hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) since October 2012. She has been wrongfully accused for plunder by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan.
The high court cited the prosecution in the said case as having failed to produce enough evidence to sustain the charge. The Sandiganbayan meanwhile has stated that it shall abide by the decision of the high court.
The former president of the republic long deserves freedom. Aside from her failing health, she deserves the treatment and courtesy of a former leader of the nation. Her age is also to be considered.
Her congressional constituents in the province's second district likewise deserve to be served by the representative their elected into office. I am quite sure that the people in the said district truly missed her.
Not long ago, the country's current President has offered Congresswoman Arroyo the granting of pardon. While it seems to be a tempting offer, it shall on condition, put the lady legislator in bad light as the pardon requires the admission of guilt by the accused.
Fortunately, the Supreme Court has served justice on Congresswoman Arroyo. This likewise entails paving the way for the country's healing while sowing unity among former and current political leaders.
Last October of last year, the United Nations Technical Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has recommended to the Philippine government for Congreswoman Arroyo's release. The call however, fell on deaf ears as the former president's supporters believed that politics affects her stay at the VMMC.
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Speaking of healing, Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto "Ross" Gamboa has manifested his advocacy on peace in his town as 44 members of the communist rebel armed group New People's Army (NPA) and the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB) laid their arms and surrendered recently before the neophyte municipal chief executive.
Mayor Gamboa himself is a known to be a former member of the underground communist movement who went to the mainstream keeping his choice of living a life of service to the people through other means.
The 44 likewise surrendered before the provincial government of Pampanga and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, bringing with them some firearms and the hope brought by the integration into the society.
The surrender likewise build good image to the town of Sta. Ana as it shows that residents of the said municipality are for peace and for progress. This likewise means the anticipated influx of investors who shall see the town as economically viable with lasting peace and order.
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