"Si Miriam po ay magaling na abogada at pinakikinggan ng bayan," she said.
"As you know, Miriam’s issue against me is not my governance, but her issue against me is that I am a de facto (president) and not de jure. But that is 2001 to 2004, and not 2004 onwards."
Speaking at the Kilosbayan-organized forum at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Mrs. Arroyo said past administrations will show that senators have not always agreed with the president who belonged to the same political party.
"That is one weakness of the presidential form because, as they say, 24 senators, 24 independent republics," she said. "So that’s one reason why it’s better to have a parliamentary system because we vote on platforms, and not on individuals."
Mrs. Arroyo answered in an open forum the question: "Why did you accept Miriam Defensor-Santiago in your Senate slate?"
Members of "civil society" also questioned Mrs. Arroyo’s action of taking into the K-4 ticket anti-impeachment senators like John Osmeña and Rodolfo Biazon, and Estrada’s defense secretary, Orlando Mercado.
Not convinced with her reply, lawyer Emil Capulong, executive director of Bantay Katarungan and trustee of Kilosbayan, told Mrs. Arroyo that he is "disturbed" that Estrada allies are being "very warmly welcomed" in the fold of K-4.
"We need some more assurance and explanation because it touches on our credibility of politics," he said. "What kind of politics are we having in this country?"
Mrs. Arroyo was invited to the "civil society" forum by former Senate president Jovito Salonga, head of Kilosbayan, and former justice secretary Sedfrey Ordoñez. — Marichu Villanueva