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Arroyo walks free after almost four years of hospital detention

Xinhua, July 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Detained former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo walked free Thursday after a Supreme Court ordered her immediate release after almost four years of detention.

The release came after 15 justices of the Supreme Court voted 11-4 Tuesday to grant Arroyo's petition seeking to dismiss a plunder case before an anti-graft Sandiganbayan court because of insufficient evidence.

One of Arroyo's lawyers said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel before the release that Arroyo is "in high spirits."

The lawyer said Arroyo's only daughter and a son were with her along with some of her friends and supporters. However, the lawyer added that Arroyo's husband is on vacation abroad with his grandchildren and won't be back until next week.

From her detention quarters, the lawyer also said that Arroyo will check in a private hospital for a medical check up. Arroyo suffers from a spine-related ailment.

But there are also media reports that the former president will head home.

Arroyo was arrested in 2011 on electoral fraud charges but was allowed to post bail. She was detained again in 2012 on plunder case for allegedly misusing 366-million pesos (8 million U.S. dollars) lottery funds of the state-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during her term.

Arroyo was president of the Philippine from 2001 until 2010. She is currently a lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

Arroyo is the second Philippine president to be jailed for plunder.

In 2001, ousted President Joseph Estrada was also jailed after anti-graft court convicted and sentenced him to life in prison in 2007. Estrada was later freed after Arroyo pardoned him.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense in the Philippines and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Endit