Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo waves to a crowd of supporters as she leaves the Veterans Memorial Hospital where she was confined for the past 5 years.
The Supreme Court voted on July 19 to acquit former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of plunder, allowing her to walk free from detention. Voting 11-4, the high court granted Arroyo’s petition seeking the dismissal of her remaining plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.
Arroyo, in her demurrer to evidence petition, sought the dismissal of her case for lack of evidence. During his campaign for the presidency, Duterte made a statement that he would release Arroyo once elected.