Palace: Even if granted bail, Gloria Arroyo still not out of the woods

Even if she was granted bail for the electoral sabotage charges against her, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo is not quite out of the woods yet, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

 

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Arroyo still faces charges of plunder, a non-bailable offense, for irregularities at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

 

"May hold departure order sa plunder, there's another case pending, let's wait and see. Kung plunder yan, non-bailable yan," Lacierda said in an interview over radio dzBB.

 

However, Lacierda said if the Pasay City court indeed allowed Arroyo to post bail, the Palace recognizes the authority of Judge Jesus Mupas to do so.

 

Lacierda said the Palace is leaving to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the decision on what to do next on Arroyo's electoral sabotage case.

 

He also sought to downplay the perception that the decision to allow Arroyo to post bail indicated a weak case against the former president.

 

"Itong kasong ito sinampa ng Comelec, basically electoral offense ito. We leave it with Comelec," he said.

 

Militants' 'emergency' protest

 

Meanwhile, the militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) called for an "emergency" protest against the decision to allow bail for Arroyo.

 

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. posted a tweet saying the protest is scheduled at the Rotonda at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City at 11:00 a.m. - VVP, GMA News