Arroyo likely to be holed up in Palace on Erap verdict day

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will likely be holed up in Malacañang the day Sandiganbayan hands down its verdict on the P4-billion plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada. Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, head of the Presidential Security Group, on Monday told reporters that there will be changes in Mrs Arroyo’s schedule on September 12 due to security reasons. He said the President will no longer attend Wednesday’s Eucharistic mass in Lipa City, Batangas because security officials are wary of what Estrada’s supporters would do if the antigraft court renders a decision not favorable to the ousted leader. Prestoza said even the September 12 peace forum of the military and the police that was supposed to be held in Camp Crame will be moved to Malacañang. Presidential legal adviser Sergio Apostol also advised Mrs Arroyo “to just stay in Malacañang" while Sandiganbayan renders its verdict on Estrada’s case. Apostol also dismissed claims that President Arroyo intentionally made the National Day of Prayer the same day as Estrada’s judgment day. He said that when Mrs Arroyo made September 12 as “national day of prayer for peace, reparation and consecration of our nation," she was not aware that it would be the same day that the court would decide on Estrada’s case. - GMANews.TV