spot_img
29 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Arroyo urges Pinoys to unite and forgive

- Advertisement -

House Speaker Gloria Arroyo on Sunday called on the people to forgive those who have hurt them as the nation bids farewell to 2018 and greets 2019  with hope for peace and prosperity.

“Sow forgiveness, not hate; unity, not division,” she said in her New Year’s message.

“Let us greet the new year with gratitude to God for all His blessings and hope for a peaceful and prosperous Philippines,” she added.

“Let us not build fences but spread kindness and compassion. Let us not sow division but unity, not hate but forgiveness.”

- Advertisement -

She wished that 2019 would bring “endless opportunities to fulfill our dreams and be a true blessing to others.” 

With Arroyo at the helm, the House processed at least 1,300 bills.

Her former election lawyer, meanwhile, lauded the Pasay City lower court for the dismissal of the election sabotage case against her.

“The dismissal will surely benefit all political parties and their candidates in the 2019 elections, especially in the senatorial race,” said Romulo Macalintal, who is running for a senatorial seat in the 2019 mid-term election.

“Arroyo’s case was based solely on her alleged statement to the public to vote straight for her senatorial bets in the 2007 polls,” he added.

Macalintal was then the lawyer of Arroyo in the 2004 presidential poll.

The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 ruled in her favor  “for failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of accused  beyond reasonable doubt and moral certainty despite ample opportunity and even without evidence in favor of said accused, the demurrer to evidence is granted and the charge of electoral sabotage against accused  is hereby ordered dismissed.”

In a six-page decision, Judge Jesus Mupas granted  her  demurrer to evidence and dismissed the credibility of the whistleblower, former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who said that he heard Arroyo say “Dapat 12-0 sa Maguindanao, kahit ayusin o palitan pa ang resulta.”

“While the case was dismissed on Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence, it only means that mere encouragement by parties or candidates to “vote straight” for their candidates in their respective slates is not an election offense,” Macalintal said.

“This only confirms my previous position that there is nothing illegal or unlawful to campaign for the entire slate of a political party or group of candidates especially so that the Constitution allows multi-party system in our electoral processes,” he added.  

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles