Duterte appoints Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Clark projects adviser

President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as his adviser on Clark’s flagship programs and projects, Malacañang announced Thursday.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed Arroyo’s appointment to GMA News Online, with her salary set at P1 per year.

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Arroyo thanked the President in a statement and promised to turn Clark into “Asia’s economic powerhouse in the 2020s.”

“This is an immense undertaking that was one of my priority thrusts during my presidency, and I am grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust in empowering me to provide advice on this economy-boosting initiative once more,” she said.

“In this time of pandemic and the worst global recession in nearly a century, the rapid harnessing of the Clark-Subic service logistics corridor for jobs, investment, and inclusive development is indispensable for national recovery,” Arroyo added.

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The Bases Conversion and Development Authority welcomed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s appoints as Clark projects adviser.

“Her wisdom and gravitas will be invaluable in making the vision of Clark as the next premier metropolis of Asia a reality,” it said in a statement.

Arroyo served as the president from January 2001 to June 2010. She then won three consecutive terms as congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district and Speaker from 2018 to 2019.

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Duterte appoints Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Clark projects adviser

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo faced several controversies in her political career, starting with how she became the President of the Philippines.

The clamor to oust then-President Joseph Estrada in 2001 gained momentum as various sectors of Philippine society – professionals, students, artists, politicians, leftist and rightist groups – joined what became known as EDSA II. As the vice-president at the time, Arroyo replaced Estrada, who left the Malacanang.

On July 27, 2003, a group of 321 armed soldiers called themselves “Bagong Katipuneros” led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower in Makati City to show the alleged Filipino people corruption of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration, believing that the President was going to declare martial law.

In December 2002, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she would not run for President in the 2004 elections. However, she changed her mind and won but got tagged in the Hello Garci controversy.

The scandal and crisis began in June 2005 when audio recordings of a phone call conversation between President Arroyo and then Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, allegedly talking about the rigging of the 2004 national election results, were released to the public. This escalated when the minority of the lower house of Congress attempted to impeach ArroyArroyo’s coalition blocked this in September 2005 and no trial took place.