In a matter of days, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will soon be spending time in jail or if the courts decide, be under house arrest.
Ironic, she may soon join the exclusive but rather infamous club of a disgraced detained president like Joseph Erap Estrada who she herself put into detention, , had convicted and later pardoned for the crime of plunder.
By a quirk turn of fate, the JAILER could become the JAILED.
Gloria faces charges of electoral sabotage in connection with the alleged rigging of the 2007 senatorial election, a crime that carries a punishment of a life sentence. It is also non-bailable, meaning she cannot post bail for temporary liberty while the case is in progress.
As of press time, the court is to decide where she will be incarcerated: in a police detention center, in a government hospital facility or maybe in her own residence under “house arrest “ .
If she ends up in a police jail, this will be a far cry from her luxurious “hospital arrest “ at the plush ,P50,000 a day hospital suite at the St.Luke Hospital.
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THE TELENOVELA:The unfolding drama of Gloria Arroyo(in full brace reminiscent of Anthony Hopkins’s character of Hannibal Lecter from the film the Silence of the Lamb) and her husband trying to leave the country via the Ninoy Aquino International airport and the spectacle of them being detained and finally prevented from leaving is a new episode in the telenovela-crazy Filipino TV viewers.
Others had branded the airport drama of Gloria as “the Failed Great Escape “while some said, a vain attempt to elicit pity as a victim of persecution of a vindictive President Noynoy Aquino .
Another case was also filed against the former president in connection with the Nov.23,2009 Maguindanao massacre for her alleged tolerance of warlords like the Ampatuan clan who are the main suspects in the mass killings.
There are five more serious charges poised to be filed against her like graft and corruption and plunder cases that would add more woes to her and family. Her son, party list representative Mikey Arroyo and his wife, also faces tax evasion
troubles but are temporarily freed on a P1,000,000 bails .
Hmmmmm..abangan ang susunod na kabanata !
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REMEMBRANCES: MAGUINDANAO TRAGEDY: The Filipino-Canadian media community commemorated and remembered the 2nd anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan-Maguindanao massacre of Nov.23,2009 where 58 persons were
killed among them 32 media colleagues.
Twin observances were held in Toronto last Nov.19 and 23 by the
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Canada chapter, the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) Canada chapter and the Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO).
The memorials were attended also by foreign journalists who sympathized with the plight of the Filipino newsmen.
At the same time, the NUJP Canada chapter, in its candlelight ceremony held Nov.23 at the OPSEU(Ontario Public Service Employees Union) headquarters , issued a petition addressed to the United Nations (UN) seeking justice for the slain journalists and a stop to the killings of newsmen worldwide.
As of press time, some 200 signatories were gathered and more are forthcoming.
Philippine Consul-General to Toronto Pedro “Pete “ Chan also vigorously supported and endorsed the move.
On behalf of the NUJP and the NPC, we would like to thank the various organizations, both Filipino and foreign, for their support and sympathy.
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EVENTS AND MILESTONES: The Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO) celebrated its 10th year of existence last December 2,2011 at the Rembrandt banquet hall. Congratulations !
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Birthday greetings to : belated greetings to my “katribos “Monica S.Soriano (Nov.20), Bro.Gus Soriano(Dec.3)to my grandnephews, A.J.and Jaden Soriano(Dec.6 and 7).
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