Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Malacañan has noted the opinion of a United Nations (UN) body that the detention of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo violates international human rights laws. But it insists that only a Philippine court can “decide on such matters.”
“The Philippines takes note of the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) and will prepare an appropriate response, according to WGAD’s rules,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Thursday (October 9).
“The Philippines, as a signatory to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, abides by its international obligations.”
With an ongoing process in Philippine courts, Coloma explained that neither the government nor any international body could interfere with the proceedings.
Philippine courts “have sole jurisdiction to decide on such matters,” he said.
Arroyo is facing plunder charges over the alleged misuse during her term as president of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds amounting to P366 million.
‘Violation of international law’
Larry Gadon, one of Arroyo’s lawyers, revealed that the UN’s WGAD deemed the continued detention of the former president as arbitrary, thus violating international human rights laws.
The UN body, composed of five independent human rights experts, said Arroyo should be given compensation for having been deprived of her liberty.
A complaint was filed before the UN by international lawyer Amal Alammudin-Clooney last February on behalf of Arroyo.
Although aware that the opinion is not legally binding, Arroyo’s camp is urging the Philippine government to comply as a member state of the UN.
“Lalabas na kahiya-hiya tayo sapagkat hindi tayo nagko-conform doon sa international standards of human rights,” Gadon said.
Gadon added that the e-mail sent by Clooney on Wednesday (October 7) mentioned that the UN body recognized the charges against the former president as politically motivated and that the Sandiganbayan First Division failed to consider Arroyo’s “individual circumstances,” as she is not a flight risk due to her poor health.
Arroyo suffers from cervical spondylosis, a chronic ailment that affects the joints in the neck.
Arroyo’s repeated petitions for the anti-graft court to grant her temporary freedom have been all denied.
Last April, she filed a bail petition before the Supreme Court, but it remains unresolved.
She is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
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Gadon told the media on Thursday that the president was happy on reading the WGAD’decision as “her rights were given recognition.”
Rulings ‘based on law’
Reacting to the UN body’s opinion, Justice Efren de la Cruz of the Sandiganbayan First Division said that the court’s “mandate is not to be influenced by any public opinion or whatever.”
“We should base our resolution on the facts and evidence of the case. That’s all,” he added.
