MANILA, Philippines — Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Macapagal Arroyo, the youngest of three children of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, broke his silence Friday and assured the public that his mother does not intend to seek
political asylum in another country and will face the criminal and civil charges against her squarely.
The opposition solon, in his statement, said the claim of their family’s critics that Mrs. Arroyo, who is under arrest on electoral sabotage charges, will escape prosecution is just preposterous.
“Allow mo to state the obvious... We have no intention of seeking political asylum abroad. Ang aming pong pamilya, ang pamilya Arroyo, ay walang balak magtago at humingi ng political asylum sa ibang bansa. Maski pa po kahit ilang unverified text messages ang pagbasehan ni Sec. [Leila] de Lima,” the young Arroyo said. (“Our family, the Arroyo family, has no intention of hiding and seeking political asylum abroad. Even if Sec. De Lima based these information on numerous unverified text messages.”)
“Kalokohan po ang isipin na tatakasan nya ang kaniyang mga paglilitis. Ang katotohanan nga ay itinuturing niya itong pagkakataon na magpaliwanag sa husgado at linisin ang kanyang pangalan,” he said.
Earlier, his elder brother, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, also defended their mother and the former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo from unabated public criticisms hurled by allies of the Aquino government.
This brings the lone Arroyo daughter, Luli, as the only member of the family who has not yet come out publicly to make a stand on the issue.
Luli, it was gathered, is reportedly pregnant and has reportedly been asked to stay out of the controversy because of her condition.
Dato said his mother is a courageous person who will never retreat from a fight that would prove her innocence of accusations hurled by her fiercest critics.
He pointed out the former President would have easily escaped when she had the chance but she never did.
“Kung ginusto niya, nakaalis na sana siya at hindi na bumalik mula pa noong pagkababa niya sa puwesto, bago pa siya nasampahan ng mga katakot-takot na kaso na alam naman niya’y siguradong parating,” the Camarines Sur solon said.
He added: “Ngunit wala po ito sa kaniyang pagkatao. Ang kanyang pagkatao ay ang klase na sumasabak at humaharap sa mga bagyo at kalamidad, at ang walang takot na gumawa ng mga desisyon na maaaring hindi magustuhan ng karamihan ngunit kailangan pa ring gawin para mai-angat ang bansa sa parating na krisis pinansyal.”
He lamented that as a result of the continued public attacks against his mother, the whole family, including Arroyo’s grandchildren, have suffered public hatred and ridicule.
Nevertheless, Dato called on the public to pray for his mother to be given a fair trial and that she will be presumed innocent until proven otherwise as provided for by the Constitution.
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