DOJ says nothing political about Arroyo visit: ‘Very formal and academic meeting’

MANILA — Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo facilitated a trilateral dialogue between the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Cambodia at the Department of Justice Friday on the abolition of the death penalty in the region.

Arroyo refused to grant interviews after her short visit but DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the former President facilitated the meeting to discuss how the three countries can convince its neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian or ASEAN region to follow their lead in the abolition of capital punishment.

“Pinag-usapan iyong how to champion the abolition of death penalty, abolition strategy natin in order to convince the other ASEAN countries to also follow or implement similar anti-death penalty laws or if possible sa Constitution,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez said there was no discussion about politics, following the transfer of House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos to the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD party.

Arroyo is the chair emeritus of Lakas-CMD.

Vasquez also said Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida was not in the meeting.

“Nothing, nothing, it’s very formal and academic in essence,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez added that Arroyo, during her presidency, signed Republic Act No. 9346 or the Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines in 2006.

Vasquez also noted that former death convict in Indonesia Mary Jane Veloso “indirectly” benefitted from the anti-death penalty law.

“I understand that the death penalty that was originally imposed upon her was reduced to life imprisonment, it’s only now under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos that we were able to effect her return here and in fact I was the one who went there to sign the agreement, the practical agreement that facilitated the return of Mary Jane Veloso,” Vasquez said.