Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo refused Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to grant her pardon.
Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has refused to accept the offer of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte to grant her pardon because it will require her to plead guilty to plunder charges.
The president-elect expressed his intentions to pardon GMA during a press conference held in Davao City. He also disclosed this plan when he campaigned in Pampanga.
The Pampanga second district representative has been detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center since 2011 for plunder charges over the alleged misuse of the controversial Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds when she was a president.
Duterte said Arroyo was the only one who was not released from the detention, while her co-accused have already bailed out. He also feels pity of her situation.
The mayor also revealed that he has talked to Arroyo and offered her pardon. However, the lawmaker refused it since she needs to admit to the case before she will be pardoned.
“Ayaw n’ya. 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.
Arroyo, who served the office of the president since for 9 years, has been reelected as Pampanga second district for the third and final term.
Meanwhile, several Arroyo’s allies are set to join the cabinet members of the presumptive president beginning on June 30.
