Tao-on, Ma. Celestine R.

SS015 - B04
Critic Esssay
GMA's case has been on the news from some time now. People were really watching it
intensely, every news that is about GMA, they watch it. Just recently the COMELEC filed a case
against GMA. They filed the case "electoral sabotage" raps against GMA based on the vote of 52. The law said that electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense. There's also news that the
senators back the COMELEC's electoral sabotage case against GMA. The case was filed after
the fact finding committee of the Department of Justice (DOJ)-Comelec panel on the 2004 and
2007 poll fraud wrapped up its preliminary investigation and found probable cause on the subject.
Even though the filing was fast, Sen. Pangilinan believes that "there has been sufficient time to
gather the needed evidence to build a case." And Pasay Judge Jesus Mupas has found probable
cause leading to her arrest on Nov. 18. Most of the senators gave their thoughts on this issue and
Sen. Trillanes said that they should've filed this case sooner in order to prevent "constitutional
crisis".
"However, the Comelec should have filed the case earlier, said Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
"This is the solution to the crisis. Sana nga kung mas maaga pa nila finile yan, hindi na tayo
umabot sa crisis na to. Yan talaga ang dahilan," he said in a text message to reporters. Earlier in
the day, the Supreme Court junked the DOJ motion to reconsider lifting the temporary restraining
order (TRO) on the watch list orders against Mrs. Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel. The SC
should now recall its TRO, said Pangilinan. "The right to travel is not an absolute right and the
filing of charges should now serve as basis to prevent Arroyo from leaving the country," he added.
If a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order were issued against Mrs. Arroyo, then they
wouldn't have a problem anymore, Escudero said. "It will render moot the whole issue...and
diffuse the possibility of a constitutional crisis," he said. But Senator Edgardo Angara said it would
appear "much of a harassment" if the court where the electoral sabotage case was filed would
immediately issue a hold departure order." This is from an article from GMAnews online. This
shows who is in favor and who is not in favor of that case. There have been reports that said that
the evidence against GMA is weak. Unless, eyewitnesses are to be presented, said Sen.
Santiago.
There have been arguments about this issue. Many people reacted on this issue, telling
their opinions. But Arroyo's camp still tries to apply for a bail even though it is clearly said on the
constitution that it is "non-bailable", why can't they understand that? My opinion on this case is
that, they should let those who are in charge of this case do their jobs, Yes, opinions are willingly
accepted but don't use them to manipulate the court's decisions.
.
About the Supreme Court, our current president, Pres. Aquino, ask questions about the
SC's fast release of an TRO, as I saw in a newspaper. He [Pres. Aquino], also asked questions
about the things concerning the decisions the SC made. The President wondered how the SC
could grant Arroyo's petition for a TRO when a review of the documents that her camp had
submitted to support her request to travel showed that she could not decide which places to go
to, how many persons to take with her, or whether to see doctors for her medical treatment or
attended a forum. It also wondered me how they acted fast on that, especially with Chief Justice
Renato Corona is one of those who voted for this. It is rather confusing, why did they do that? Is it
because the ones who voted for the TRO were allies of Arroyo? Many people suspected that. The
release of TRO or temporary restraining order is the main issue here because the people are
asking questions why the release is bad. It is also a good thing that the President asked
questions about it. As I've researched, before releasing a TRO there should be an oral argument,
right?
The President also talked about the "judicial uncertainty" that made the job difficult for
executives like himself and business leaders, he also cited an example about the SC's case on
Dinagat. He also said the Supreme court was dealing with neither abstract rules nor theories.
That article shows that the President and even Justice Secretary Leila Delima is questioning the

Supreme Court's ruling.

Next is the appeal of Arroyo's camp about her cases. The most recent one is their appeal
for a house arrest which was denied by the Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. She said there was
not enough evidence to get her [GMA] under house arrest. Also, Arroyo's camp withdrew their
appeal for a hospital arrest because her doctors said that she is well enough to be an outpatient.
But, the court decided to transfer her to the Veteran's Hospital, where the government could give
her much protection. This is due to what her camp says that there is a threat in the
Congresswoman's life and there's a plan called "Put the Little Girl to Sleep". The government
can't believe this because who would do that? What would they earn if they kill her? They would
such fools if they really had that plan.
Then there is also a motion of reconsideration for the TRO. But the court denied this
matter. Then, Arroyo's camp protests against "no cellphone, no laptop" policy while she is in
VMMC. They said that she's a workaholic and she wanted to work even though she is in
confinement. But, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo earlier said Arroyo will
be barred from using a cellphone or computer at the VMMC. The Pasay court said this is to show
there is no VIP treatment for Mrs. Arroyo. Robredo, however, said Arroyo can bring her own bed
to the hospital if her medical condition requires it.
Based on the articles found at newspapers and the news we always watch, Arroyo's
camp is desperately looking for legal loopholes that could give the Arroyo's the "freedom" they
want. This puts me into question as to why are they doing this if they said that they are innocent?
This desperate struggling for me shows that they are indeed the ones who did those crimes and
they are afraid of the consequences it might put them into. They are just afraid of being in jail.