Philippine gov't disagrees with UN arbitration group regarding Arroyo's detention

The Aquino administration on Thursday disagreed with a United Nation's arbitration group, insisting that only the Philippine courts can decide where former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be detained.

Communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacanang acknowledged the opinion of the five-member United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that declared Arroyo's continued detention as arbitrary and illegal under international law and the country would respond accordingly.

"It must be noted that there is an ongoing judicial process in the Philippine courts, which has sole jurisdiction to decide on such matters. The Philippine government, or any international body for that matter, cannot interfere nor influence the course of an independent judicial proceeding," he added.

Coloma said the Philippines as a signatory to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, abides by its international obligations and ensures that all individuals are accorded due process under its laws.

He said that in the case of Arroyo, the Philippine courts had accorded her due process and she had availed of the various legal remedies under the country's laws that are available to her.

Arroyo at present is on house arrest in connection with the alleged irregular use of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. Endi