Aquino assures Gloria Arroyo of due process

Former President Gloria Arroyo will have her chance to defend herself in court over charges of electoral sabotage, President Benigno Aquino III said Saturday night. Aquino, who arrived from Indonesia where he attended an Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders' meeting, said the justice system under his watch will be objective and fair. "Magkakaroon po siya ng patas na pagkakataong ipagtanggol ang sarili niya sa korte dahil karapatan ito ng bawa't Pilipino," Aquino said in his statement, aired on government-run dzRB radio. "'Yan lang naman ang nararapat di po ba, na ang prosesong dadaanan ... mula sa pinakamataas sa pinakamababang hanay ay dapat pare-pareho," he added. Friday night, Arroyo was arrested after a Pasay City court issued a warrant for her arrest on charges of electoral sabotage. But she has been allowed to stay at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City, where she had stayed since Tuesday night when she was barred from going abroad. Aquino said his administration is putting in place judicial reforms that will look for the truth and punish the guilty. "Walang kinikilingan at nakatuon lamang sa paghahanap ng katotohanan at pananagot ang may kasalanan," he said. He said the guilty must be held accountable, lest the failure to prosecute them encourage others to commit more wrongdoings. Aquino arrived at the Villamor Air Base before 10 p.m. Saturday from Bali, Indonesia. — ELR, GMA News