The Philippine Supreme Court yesterday threw out a long-running corruption case against jailed former president Gloria Arroyo and ordered her immediate release after almost five years in detention.
The 69-year-old, who was in office from 2001-2010, could be freed today from the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre (VMMC) where she has been held since her November 2011 arrest, her lawyers said.
The case against Arroyo and a co-defendant was dismissed “for insufficiency of evidence,” Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te told reporters.
Judges voted 11-4 in her favour.
Arroyo was accused of stealing 366mn pesos ($8.8mn) in state lottery funds meant for charity programmes while she was in office.
“The court orders the immediate release from detention of said prisoners,” Te said, reading from the court ruling.
Arroyo had refused to submit evidence during the trial, which was held at a special anti-graft court, claiming the charges against her were weak.
She later requested the Supreme Court dismiss the entire case.
Arroyo was initially arrested on charges of electoral sabotage for allegedly conspiring with election officials to rig 2007 senatorial elections.
She was granted bail for that case in July 2012 after the court - while not dismissing the charge - ruled the evidence against her was weak.
But the corruption case against her was lodged the same year, keeping her in detention.
Despite being detained, Arroyo has won a seat in the House of Representatives in the past two elections.
However, she has appeared to be in poor health, wearing a neck brace in court appearances for what her doctors describe as a spinal disease.
The court decision is almost certain to be welcomed by new President Rodrigo Duterte, who had said he would seek her release.
Arroyo still faces an investigation into allegations she took kickbacks over a $329mn broadband Internet deal with China’s ZTE Corporation in 2007, which fell through a year later.
She denies all charges and has posted bail.
Arroyo was in tears on learning that she is finally free.
She was surrounded by former members of her cabinet, son Juan Miguel and grandchildren in her room at the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre in Quezon City as news came of her acquittal.
Arroyo thanked God, members of the Supreme Court, and Duterte ahead of her impending release after undergoing what she described as an unjust persecution.
“First and foremost, to God Almighty be all the glory and praise. Through His kindness and mercy, justice and righteousness have once again prevailed over injustice and wrongdoing,” Arroyo said in a statement.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Members of the Supreme Court for finally stopping the persecution I had unjustly gone through the last five years. My most profound appreciation to His Excellency Rodrigo Duterte for allowing due process to take its course,” she said.
The government urged the public to accept the decision.
“The Supreme Court has spoken. Let us respect and abide by the court’s decision,” it said in a brief statement.
At a press conference at the Malacanang Palace, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, who served in the Arroyo cabinet, said he “rejoiced” over the court decision.
File photo of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives to vote in the national elections in her hometown of Lubao, Pampanga province, north of Manila on May 9 this year.
