International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney just doesn't have any business interfering with the Philippine judicial system. Instead of trying to defend the case she filed before the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for and on behalf of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she should have taken the case of the victims who were defrauded by the rich families of Arroyo.
According to STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa said Clooney, wife of Hollywood star George Clooney, was able to present before the UN body the case of Arroyo, in hospital arrest without bail despite her frail health and the weak evidence on the plunder complaint filed against her.
"Despite a hectic schedule flying back and forth from Hollywood and London for her wedding to famous actor George Clooney, Amal continued her work to bring GMA’s (Arroyo) continued imprisonment to the attention of the world body," Pedrosa said in her column last 7 March 2015.
"This is a breakthrough not just for the human rights of a former president of the Philippines and its international repercussion but it can set a train of other human rights violations of Filipinos that have not had the benefit of redress available through the world body," she said.
What was not mentioned is the fact that Arroyo has her mega-powerful and influential array of lawyers to see to it that there will be no miscarriage of justice. Clooney also did not take into consideration that Arroyo should have been put in a regular jail already and suffer just like any other criminal that was sentenced by the courts.
Arroyo can do her famous "I'm Sorry" speech again, but will not receive any favorable response from majority of the Filipinos familiar with the 'Hello Garci' tapes, the US$ 329-million ZTE deal, among others.
Arroyo, who turns 68 on 5 April, was also accused of the plunder of funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) along with other former agency officials in an alleged conspiracy. Her lawyers, however, have pointed out most of her co-accused have been granted bail and government prosecutors have presented only one witness – a member of the current PCSO board – who admitted having no direct knowledge of the charges.
Clooney is barking at the wrong tree or she is only for the publicity the case would draw? Some bloggers are asking the lawyer to back off now because there is no virtue in defending a proven cheat.
Pedrosa said Arroyo’s case would be an important precedent for the Philippines.
According to STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa said Clooney, wife of Hollywood star George Clooney, was able to present before the UN body the case of Arroyo, in hospital arrest without bail despite her frail health and the weak evidence on the plunder complaint filed against her.
"Despite a hectic schedule flying back and forth from Hollywood and London for her wedding to famous actor George Clooney, Amal continued her work to bring GMA’s (Arroyo) continued imprisonment to the attention of the world body," Pedrosa said in her column last 7 March 2015.
"This is a breakthrough not just for the human rights of a former president of the Philippines and its international repercussion but it can set a train of other human rights violations of Filipinos that have not had the benefit of redress available through the world body," she said.
What was not mentioned is the fact that Arroyo has her mega-powerful and influential array of lawyers to see to it that there will be no miscarriage of justice. Clooney also did not take into consideration that Arroyo should have been put in a regular jail already and suffer just like any other criminal that was sentenced by the courts.
Arroyo can do her famous "I'm Sorry" speech again, but will not receive any favorable response from majority of the Filipinos familiar with the 'Hello Garci' tapes, the US$ 329-million ZTE deal, among others.
Arroyo, who turns 68 on 5 April, was also accused of the plunder of funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) along with other former agency officials in an alleged conspiracy. Her lawyers, however, have pointed out most of her co-accused have been granted bail and government prosecutors have presented only one witness – a member of the current PCSO board – who admitted having no direct knowledge of the charges.
Clooney is barking at the wrong tree or she is only for the publicity the case would draw? Some bloggers are asking the lawyer to back off now because there is no virtue in defending a proven cheat.
Pedrosa said Arroyo’s case would be an important precedent for the Philippines.