Rordrigo Dueterte says he is ready to grant pardon to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte said he is ready to grant pardon to the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He said this during a press conference held in his hometown, Davao City.
In an interview with the press, Duterte said that Arroyo should be released, adding that her other co-accused in the case have already been released.
“Let me explain. Si Arroyo to my mind should also be released kasi ‘yung lahat na-demanda in connection with the sweepstakes expenditure ng intelligence fund nasa labas na. Si Arroyo lang ang hanggang nandiyan,” he said.
The 69-year-old congresswoman is in a hospital arrest at Veterans Memorial Medical Center because of complications after cervical spine injury. She has been detained since 2011 due to plunder case over the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds amounting to 365 million.
The Mayor also admitted that he has talked to Arroyo during the campaign. He said that he offered to grant her pardon when he becomes president not because they are friends, but because he thinks there is no good case against her.
“I offered, ‘When I become president, I will pardon you.’ I talked to her, sabi ko, ‘Ma’am, gusto mo i-pardon kita? Not because we’re friends, but because I do not think that there is a good case against you as a prosecutor, as a lawyer,'” he said.
Duterte has earlier expressed his intentions to grant pardon for the ex-president when he campaigned in Pampanga.
The former lady president has been reelected as Pampanga second district representative on May 9 election.
