The Return of Arroyo: What’s Your Stand?

Julia Cyrille C. Manalo

9 – St. Patrick

A nation without an unequivocal opinion is bound to fall flat on its face. Hence, we are
critical thinkers who are given a fair-and-square medium to speak up for what we believe in—let’s
not throw this opportunity and right into waste for mindless criticisms, yet, conceptualize
thoroughly to be with substance, rather. With that said, Former President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo’s return as the present (25th) Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in the Duterte Administration (being officially part of the PDP Laban) flipped tables—resulting to
mixed reactions from a whole. Which sums it all in one drain, silently ask one’s stance, what’s my
stand? Is her Excellency’s upturn towards the national governing body justifiable despite her
dropped charges or does it tell otherwise?
On a serious note, honestly speaking by all means—Arroyo’s resurgence, succeeding
Pantaleon Alvarez is a beaming comeback for I’ve earnestly believed that she is more than just a
woman – she is a loving mother of three children, a composed daughter of former President
Diosdado Macapagal, an economist who earned a master's degree and doctorate in the said sector
and advocate, and not to mention, the 14th President of the Philippines. She is seamlessly fitting
for the position, even before she indulged in politics, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was previously an
Economics professor at Ateneo de Manila University where eventual President Benigno Aquino
III was one of her students. Plus, a graduate from a university overseas – Arroyo was recognized
with her promising credentials, specifically, her international honorary degrees: Honorary Doctor
of Laws degree from Japan's Waseda University (2002), Honorary Doctor of Laws degree
from Old Dominion University (2003) in Virginia, United States, Honorary Doctor of
Laws degree from Kyungsung University in Pusan, South Korea (2005), Honorary doctorate
degree from University of Egypt in California, United States (2004), Honorary Doctor of
Humanities degree from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Philippines (2004),
Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Fordham University (2003), Honorary Doctor of
Laws degree from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, Doctor of Laws, and, La
Trobe University in Australia (2000). Humanity faces crises which comes with lights and shadows
– prior to Gloria’s charges from electoral sabotage (warrant of arrest was issued by the Pasay
Court, followed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)’s filing of complaint – on July 25,
2011, she was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig (in early 2011 – she was diagnosed
with cervical spondylosis or cervical radiculopathy) and faced hospital arrest days later as
Arroyo’s transfer to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City dated on December 9,
2011. Arroyo was released from hospital arrest on bail on July 25, 2012), to plunder (On October
29, 2012, she refused to enter any formal statements to state her guilt or innocence on response to
her charges that she misused $8.8 million in state lottery funds during her term in office. The
Supreme Court dismissed the corruption charges and ordered her release from the hospital where
she had been detained since 2012, on July 19, 2016) - In a case filed by human rights lawyer Amal
Clooney, the United Nations (UN) Working Group decided Arroyo’s hospital detention arbitrary
towards the international law on human rights; the charges against Mrs. Arroyo were politically
motivated since she was detained and that the detention was undemocratic and illegal under
international law in a sense that the Sandiganbayan Court repeatedly denied her bail which they
failed to consider her condition due to various medical incidents.

The tea is definitely hot in the politician world, but, let’s not put into shade the good impact
she upheld for the nation since she was an economist, then a senator who filed over 400 bills and
sponsored 55 laws during her tenure, including the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Indigenous
People's Rights Law, and the Export Development Act, to considering a run for Vice Presidency
in the 1998 elections and eventually won (she resigned in the cabinet as Secretary of Social Welfare
and Development as she distanced herself to former President Joseph Estrada as he was repeatedly
accused for corruption, Arroyo initially resisted pressure from her allies, but, later joined calls for
Estrada’s resignation), by January 2001 – Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was sworn President by Chief
Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. after Estrada’s impeachmeant was took into account – Filipinos’ united
as the streets were thorough with their clamors in harmonious symmetry, years were the political
uncertainty – professionals, students, artists, politicians, leftist and rightist groups – joined what
became known as EDSA II. Officials of the administration, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also withdrew their support for
President Estrada; it was a sight for the world, a momentum where differences where set aside,
and Arroyo’s Presidency was the hope to refresh anew Philippines. She made the Philippine
economy the focus of her presidency. Annual economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5%
during the Arroyo administration. This was higher than in the administrations of her three
immediate predecessors: Corazon Aquino (3.8%), Fidel Ramos (3.7%), and Joseph Estrada
(3.7%). The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP
growth exceeding 7%.

I’ve asked my grandmother about her, whom was a former Clerk of Court in our
municipality, she sighed, “Ah. She is one of many women I looked up to – never have I felt like
the country was in a safe haven when she was sworn to presidency.” Therefore, we all drift into
one querie, what’s my stand? For me? Yes. I’ve put my trust towards the 25th Speaker of the House
of Representatives, I entrust my nation to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – Thus, I rest my case.