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Tag: Sonny Dominguez

The Arroyo-Dominguez conflict

House Speaker Gloria Arroyo and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III

Observing the simmering conflict between Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III and House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo, I recall an article in the Sept. 15, 2001 issue of the Philippine Star that featured the narration of Justin R. Phillips, general manager of The Linden Suites located at San Miguel Avenue of the dramatic three days of January 2001 when the self-proclaimed members of the “civil society” succeeded in cutting short the presidency of Joseph Estrada and installed in Malacañang the vice president.

Linden Suites which is owned by Dominguez, served as the war room for the operations to oust Estrada following the breakdown of Estrada impeachment trial in the Senate. The anti-Estrada forces called for “People Power 2” on Edsa.

Here’s the article that confirmed the role of the Dominguez hotel in Arroyo’s power grab: “I just happened to look out my third floor window,” relates Justin R. Phillips, general manager of The Linden Suites which is located at San Miguel Avenue at the Ortigas Center, not far from where all the action was taking place, “and I saw this motorcade coming down San Miguel Ave. That was as much warning as we had and next thing we knew, the vice president and her group were here. Suddenly, we found ourselves catering to at least a hundred in the function rooms which were instantly transformed into a high-level operations center. It just went on all night. Then, at about 7 a.m., she retired to her room. Then, she was back down by about 9 a.m. She couldn’t have had much sleep. By mid-day, she was being sworn in.”

Happy days are here again for Gloria Arroyo and associates

It’s only 45 days away when Rodrigo Duterte becomes the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

If Duterte makes good his election promise, Gloria Arroyo, who has won another term as representative of the second district of Pampanga, can look forward to days of freedom very soon. She has been confined at the Veterans Memorial Hospital since 2011.

Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo took a selfie when he attended  Gloria Arroyo's birthday party in La Vista last April 5.
Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo took a selfie when he attended Gloria Arroyo’s birthday party in La Vista last April 5.

When he campaigned in Pampanga last Feb. 7, Duterte said, “If I am elected President, I will release her. Why? Because the evidence [against her] is weak. I know that. I am a lawyer.”

Duterte’s assessment of cases against Arroyo as “weak” is supported by the dismissal by the Ombudsman of the P200 million fertilizer scam case and the alleged illegal transfer of funds of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to Philhealth.