Is Arroyo and Duterte Allies?
Allies? Following Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo request to the Supreme Court to celebrate her 69th birthday, a controversial photo leaked online showing the lawyer of presidential bet Rodrigo Duterte with the former president.
Although some allies of Arroyo have already said that she is supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay, it seemed that the photos posted by Salvador Panelo indicate otherwise as some guests including the “volunteer ladies of Duterte” were also present in the gathering.
“Taken during the birthday bash of a celebrated friend in her La Vista home with volunteer ladies for Mayor Duterte on April 5,” as captioned.
Panelo had already set all the photos showing either him or Arroyo private.
Most netizens already speculated that Arroyo is the woman behind Duterte’s campaign machinery however, she nor Duterte have not yet confirmed what were speculated on the photos posted by the lawyer.
It was in October 2012 when the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Arroyo for the alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds from 2008 to 2010.
Earlier, Arroyo’s political party has been vocal in supporting the candidacy of Binay.
Binay and Duterte, in the other hand, are among the candidates who expressed support for Arroyo’s bid for house arrest because of his condition.
In the earlier interviews, Duterte also said that if he is elected as president, he will order the release of Arroyo because of the weak evidence against her. For a record, Duterte who is still leading the presidential survey, also serves as Arroyo’s administration as an anti-crime consultant.