MANILA, Philippines — Hindi gaanong importante ang golden wedding anniversary ni El Shaddai Founder Mariano "Mike" Velarde kaya hindi pinayagan ng korte si dating Pangulo Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na dumalo.
"The Court has already found that evidence of her guilt is strong," nakasaad sa desisyon ni Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz ng Sandiganbayan First Division. "The accused-movant's motion is bereft of merit."
Hiniling ni Arroyo na makalabas siya ng Veterans Memorial Medical Center upang makadalo sa mahalagang araw para sa kanyang “close friend at spiritual adviser.”
Sinabi ng dating Pangulo na dapat siyang payagan ng korte dahil hindi pa naman napapatunayan ang kasong plunder laban sa kanya.
"According to her, 'She should be afforded the same privileges that those who have yet to be found guilty by final judgment of a criminal offense may enjoy," sabi ni De la Cruz.
Nauna nang hindi pinayagan ng korte si Arroyo na makapagdiwang ng kanyang ika-67 kaarawan sa kanyang bahay sa Lubao, Pampanga.
"The Court holds, and so rules, that being a detention prisoner, just like all other detention prisoners, accused Arroyo cannot be allowed the full employment of her rights, be it civil or political," sabi ng korte.
"And the inherent and consequent restraints in some of her rights does not run counter to the constitutional presumption of her innocence, for the rule stands that until a promulgation of final conviction is made, the constitutional mandate of presumption of innocence prevails.”