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Official portrait, 2002
Presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Vice President	None(Jan–Feb 2001) Teofisto Guingona Jr. (2001–2004) Noli de Castro (2004–2010)
Cabinet	See list
Party	KAMPI andLakas (2001–09) Lakas–Kampi (2009–10)
Election	2004
Seat	Malacañang Palace,Manila
← Joseph Estrada Benigno Aquino III →
Seal of the President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo served two consecutive terms as the 14thPresident of the Philippines. Her presidency began on January 20, 2001, following theSecond EDSA Revolution, and continued until 2010. She completed her first term from 2001 to 2004. In the2004 Philippine presidential election, Arroyo ran as the incumbent and defeated her main opponent,Fernando Poe Jr. She was inaugurated for her second term on June 30, 2004.

Arroyo nominated the following to theSupreme Court of the Philippines:

1. Artemio Panganiban - December 20, 2005
2. Reynato Puno - December 8, 2007
3. Renato Corona - May 17, 2010^[2]

Arroyo's ascent to the Philippine presidency in 2001 resulted from the ouster of her predecessorJoseph Estrada through a peaceful uprising dubbed as People Power II. On January 20, 2001, the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant. The military and the national police had earlier withdrawn their support for Estrada. Arroyo was one of those who called for Estrada's resignation. Upon the news that Estrada had leftMalacañang Palace and stepped down from office, Arroyo went toEDSA Shrine and took her oath of office as President.

At noon, Arroyo was sworn in as President of the Philippines byChief JusticeHilario Davide, Jr.^[4] The Bible which she used was held by Cecilia Paz Abad, the youngest of daughter of then-Batanes RepresentativeFlorencio Abad. Coincidentally, Arroyo assumed office thesame day asUS PresidentGeorge W. Bush.

Join me therefore as we begin to tear down the walls that divide. Let us build an edifice of peace, progress, and economic stability.

While the local media and its proponents hailedEDSA II as another peaceful "People Power," international views expressed through foreign media described it as a "conspiracy" to oust Estrada and install Arroyo as president. TheNew York Times reported that Southeast Asia-based political economist William Overholt called it "either... mob rule or mob rule as a cover for a well-planned coup."^[6] TheInternational Herald Tribune reports that the "opportunist coalition of church, business elite and left... orchestrated thePeople Power II movement."^[7]

Weeks later, Estrada filed a lawsuit challenging the legal basis of the Arroyo presidency and insisting he remained the lawful president, though adding he would not try to reclaim his post.^[8] TheSupreme Court issued its decision on March 2, 2001, asserting that Estrada had resigned the presidency and relinquished his post.^[4] The court unanimously voted to dismiss Estrada's petition, reaffirming the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency.^[4]

OnMay 1, 2001, a week after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder, an estimated 3,000,000^[9] protesters sympathetic to Estrada degenerated into violence and attempted to storm thepresidential palace to force Arroyo from office.^[10] Four people died, including two policemen, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes between security forces and rioters.^[10][11] After being dispersed, the crowd had looted stores and burned cars.^[10] Arroyo declared a 'state of rebellion' inManila and ordered the arrests of opposition leaders who led the uprising and conspired to topple the government.^[10] The state of rebellion was lifted one week later, with Arroyo declaring that "the disorder has subsided."^[11]

Support for the opposition and Estrada subsequently dwindled after the victory of administration allied candidates in themidterm elections that was held later that month. Arroyo outlined her vision for the country as "building a strong republic" throughout her tenure. Her agenda consisted of building up a strong bureaucracy, lowering crime rates, increasing tax collection, improving economic growth, and intensifying counter-terrorism efforts.

The 2001 legislative elections and local elections were held in thePhilippines on May 14, 2001, four months after Arroyo took office. Independent senatorial candidateNoli de Castro, a former television anchor ofTV Patrol ofABS-CBN and a guest candidate of the opposition coalition, was announced as the topnotcher. The administration's coalition gained the majority.

The Oakwood mutiny occurred on July 27, 2003, when a group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"^[12] led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala andLt.Antonio Trillanes IV of thePhilippine Navy took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower inMakati to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration. The group also stated that they saw signs suggesting that Arroyo was going to declaremartial law.

Although thePhilippine Constitution bars a president from re-election, it allows for the election of a person who has succeeded as president and has served for not more than four years.^[13] In December 2002, Arroyo made the surprise announcement that she would not seek a new term in the2004 Philippine general election.^[14] Ten months later, however, she reversed her position and declared her intention to seek a direct mandate from the people, saying "there is a higher cause to change society... in a way that nourishes our future."^[15]

Arroyo faced a tough election campaign in early 2004 against Estrada friend and popular actorFernando Poe, Jr., senator and former police generalPanfilo Lacson, former senatorRaul Roco, and Christian evangelistEddie Villanueva. Her campaign platform centered on a shift to a parliamentary and federal form of government, job creation, universal health insurance, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism.^[14]

Arroyo lagged behind Poe in the polls prior to the campaign season, but her popularity steadily climbed to surpass Poe's.^[16] As predicted by pre-election surveys andexit polls, she won the election by a margin of over a million votes against her closest rival, Fernando Poe, Jr.^[17]

Arroyo took her oath of office on June 30, 2004. In a break with tradition, she chose to first deliver her inaugural address at theQuirino Grandstand in Manila before departing toCebu City for her oath taking: the first time a Philippine president had taken the oath of office outside ofLuzon.^[14]

On Friday, February 24, 2006, an allegedcoup d'état plot was uncovered in the Philippines, headed by Brig. Gen.Danilo Lim.

Wikinews has related news:

• Arroyo declares state of emergency due to coup attempt in Philippines

The declaration ofProclamation No. 1017 (PP 1017) gave Arroyo the power to issue warrantless (and, until then, unconstitutional) arrests and to take over private institutions that run public utilities.

President Gloria Macapagal‑Arroyo, acting through the Department of Education, initially suspended classes at the elementary and secondary levels. In solidarity, many colleges and universities followed suit. Soon thereafter, by virtue of Proclamation 1017, Arroyo declared a nationwide State of Emergency in an effort to suppress the growing rebellion as her hold on power wavered. The government’s first move under the emergency decree was to disperse demonstrators—especially those picketing along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Among the protesters was former President Corazon Aquino, who joined leftist and far‑right activists in denouncing the administration. Multiple public figures were reportedly arrested during the crackdown.

After the plot was foiled and the rallies were dispersed, PP 1017 remained in effect for a week due to ongoing threats of military uprisings—such as the February 26 standoff at Fort Bonifacio led by Col. Ariel Querubin—as well as concerns over violence, illegal rallies, and public disturbances.

Six leftist representatives—namely,Satur Ocampo,Teodoro Casiño, andJoel Virador ofBayan Muna;Liza Maza ofGABRIELA; andCrispin Beltran andRafael Mariano ofAnakpawis—were charged with rebellion. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis was arrested on February 25 on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. To avoid further arrest, the other five found shelter at theBatasang Pambansa Complex.

On Saturday, February 25, the office of theDaily Tribune, a newspaper known as a hard-hitting critic of the Arroyo administration, was raided. After the raid, an issuance of Journalism Guideline followed, authored by the government in order to cope with the "present abnormal situation," according to then Chief of Staff Michael Defensor. The move to suppressfreedom of the press against theDaily Tribune was criticized byReporters Without Borders.^[18]

The decree was lifted on March 3, 2006. However, the opposition, lawyers, and concerned citizens filed a complaint with the Supreme Court contesting the constitutionality of PP 1017. The court, on May 4, declared the proclamation constitutional but stated that issuing warrantless arrests and seizing private institutions was illegal.

Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in theSenate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in theHouse of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms. The duly elected legislators of the 2007 elections joined the elected senators of the 2004 elections to comprise the14th Congress of the Philippines. Arroyo's coalition won three senate seats and 123 seats in the house.^{[citation needed]}

A rebellion occurred on November 29, 2007, when detained SenatorAntonio Trillanes IV, GeneralDanilo Lim, and otherMagdalo officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets ofMakati, called for the ouster of Arroyo, and seized the second floor ofThe Peninsula Manila Hotel alongAyala Avenue. Former Vice-PresidentTeofisto Guingona also joined the march to the hotel.

Trillanes and Lim surrendered to authorities after an armored personnel carrier rammed into the lobby of the hotel.^[19] Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was over as Trillanes, Lim, and other junior officers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege.^[20] There was difficulty getting out for a while due to thetear gas that was covering the area where they were hiding.

Days after the mutiny, the Makati Regional Trial Court dismissed the rebellion charges against all the 14 civilians involved in the siege, and ordered their release.

After decades of surveys, consultations, and studies starting with the Monroe Survey in 1925 during the American period, the implementation ofK–12 curriculum finally began on May 20, 2008 during the Arroyo administration when SenatorMar Roxas filed theOmnibus Education Reform Act of 2008 (Senate Bill 2294) to strengthen the Philippine education system through timely interventions on the quality of teachers, the medium of instruction used and the evaluation of students' aptitude, among other aspects and further emphasized by the ASEAN Charter on December 15, 2008. Both mandate the effectivity of K–12 four years later on April 24, 2012 duringthe administration of Arroyo's successor Benigno Aquino III which increase in the number of years in basic education, from 10 years to 12 years as consistent with global standards. The process lasted for 9 years until June 5, 2017 spanning from the administrations of Arroyo toRodrigo Duterte.^[21]

On January 7, 2010, senator and presidential candidateBenigno Aquino III adopted the position of SB 2294; he said this will "give everyone an equal chance to succeed" and "have quality education and profitable jobs."^[22][23]

In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008,impeachment complaints were filed against Arroyo, although none of the cases reached the required endorsement of 1/3 of the members for transmittal to and trial by the Senate.

On October 13, 2008, the 4th 97-page impeachment complaint against Arroyo was filed at theHouse of Representatives of the Philippines with the required endorsements by Party-list RepresentativesSatur Ocampo,Teodoro Casiño andLiza Maza. The complaint accuses Arroyo of corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture and illegal arrests. The impeachment further raised the issues on "national broadband network agreement with China, human rights violations, the Northrail project, the Mt. Diwalwal project,fertilizer fund scam, alleged bribery of members of the House, the swine scam under the Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation, and 2004 electoral fraud." The opposition complainants were Edita Burgos, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico,Jose de Venecia III,Harry Roque, Armando Albarillo, a human rights victim, Roneo Clamor,Karapatan deputy secretary general, Josefina Lichauco, and representatives from civil society - Renato Constantino, Jr., Henri Kahn, Francisco Alcuaz,Rez Cortez, Virgilio Eustaquio, Jose Luis Alcuaz,Leah Navarro, Danilo Ramos, Concepcion Empeño,Elmer Labog, Armando Albarillo, Roneo Clamor, and Bebu Bulchand. The justice committee has 60 days to rule upon the complaint's sufficiency in form and substance. However, the opposition has only 28 House seats.^{[24][25][26][27][28]}

On October 25, 2007, supposedly based on the recommendation by theDepartment of Justice (DOJ), Arroyo granted apardon toJoseph Estrada, who was convicted by theSandiganbayan ofplunder and imposed a penalty ofreclusion perpetua. Press SecretaryIgnacio Bunye noted that Estrada committed in his application not to seek public office, and he would be free from his Tanay resthouse on October 26, noon.^[29][30][31] Accordingly, DOJ SecretaryRaul Gonzales categorically stated in 2008 that Estrada's plan to run for president in the scheduled 2010 elections is unconstitutional; Estrada, however, disagrees, saying that he is eligible to run for president again, based on the legal advice he got from former Supreme Court Chief JusticeAndres Narvasa.^[32]

In response to the massacre of 57 people inAmpatuan town, Arroyo placedMaguindanao under a state ofmartial law under Proclamation No. 1959. Executive SecretaryEduardo Ermita announced on the morning of December 5, 2009. In so doing, Malacañang has suspended thewrit of habeas corpus in the province except "for certain areas," enabling the military to make arrests without court intervention. Her proclamation constituted the first declaration ofmartial law in the Philippines since 1972, when then-president infamouslyFerdinand Marcosimposed it over the whole country.^[33][34]

On November 30, 2009, after much speculation, Arroyo announced on thePhilippine Broadcasting Service her congressional bid for thesecond district ofPampanga.^[35] A day later, she filed her candidacy under theLakas-Kampi-CMD.^[36]

Arroyo, a practicing economist, made the economy the focus of her presidency. Based on official (National Economic and Development Authority) figures, economic growth in terms ofgross domestic product has averaged 5.0% during the Arroyo presidency from 2001 up to the first quarter of 2008.^[37] This is higher than in the administration of the previous recent presidents: 3.8% average ofAquino, 3.7% average ofRamos, and 3.7%^[38] average of theJoseph Estrada administration. The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%.^[39] Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former "friend" and classmate in Georgetown, ex-US PresidentBill Clinton, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape.^[40]

Whether the official economic figures are accurate, or how they translate to improving lives of the citizens, however, is debatable. Studies made by theUnited Nations (UN) and local survey research firms show worsening, instead of improving,poverty levels. A comparative 2008UN report shows that the Philippines lags behind its Asian neighbors,Indonesia,Thailand,Vietnam andChina, in terms ofpoverty amelioration. The study reveals that from 2003 up to 2006, the number of poor Filipinos increased by 3.8 million, withpoverty incidence being approximately three times higher in agricultural communities.^[41] With regards the problem ofhunger, quarterly studies by the social polling research firmSocial Weather Stations show that the number of Filipino households suffering fromhunger has significantly increased during Arroyo's presidency. Her administration first set the record forhunger levels in March 2001, and beginning June 2004, broke the record again seven times. December 2008 figures saw the new record high of 23.7%, or approximately 4.3 million households, of Filipino families experiencing involuntaryhunger.^[42]

A controversial expandedvalue added tax (e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic reform agenda,^[43] was implemented in November 2005, aiming to complement revenue-raising efforts that could plug the country's large budget deficit. The country aims to balance the national budget by 2010. The tax measure boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen thePhilippine peso, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005–06.^[44] The peso strengthened by nearly 20% in 2007, making it by far Asia's best performing currency for the year, a fact attributed to a combination of increased remittances fromoverseas Filipino workers and a strong domestic economy.^[45]

Annualinflation reached the 17-year high of 12.5 percent in August 2008, up from a record low of 2.8 percent registered in 2007. It eased to 8.8 percent in December 2008 as fuel and energy prices went down.^[46]

The managing director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub, criticized the administration for not doing enough to curb corruption.^[47][48]

Early in her presidency, Arroyo implemented a controversial policy of holiday economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families.^[49]

In 2005, Arroyo initiated a movement for an overhaul of the constitution to transform the present presidential-bicameral republic into a federal parliamentary-unicameral form of government.^[50] At her 2005 State of the Nation Address, she claimed "The system clearly needs fundamental change, and the sooner the better. It's time to start the great debate on Charter Change".^[51]

In late 2006, theHouse of Representatives shelved a plan to revise the constitution throughconstituent assembly.^[52]

In late September 2005, Arroyo issued an executive order stating that demonstrations without permits would be pre-emptively stopped. Then members of the military testified in Congressional hearings that they were defying a direct order not to testify about their knowledge of the election scandal. Arroyo issuedExecutive Order No. 464 (EO 464), which prohibited government officials under the executive department from appearing in congressional inquiries without Arroyo's prior consent.^[53][54] These measures were challenged before theSupreme Court, which declared some sections asunconstitutional.^[55] After a meeting with Catholic bishops and government lawyers, Arroyo revoked EO 464 in March 2008.^[56]

A May 2006Amnesty International report expressed concern over the sharp rise in vigilante killings of militant activists and community workers in the Philippines.^[57]Task Force Usig, a special police unit tasked to probe reportedextra-judicial killings, by state rundeath squads counts 115 murders and says most of these are the result of an internal purge bycommunist rebels.^[58] Human rights groups put the number as high as 830.

These violations were alleged to have been committed against left-leaning organizations and party-list groups includingBAYAN,Bayan Muna andAnakpawis. These organizations accuse thePhilippine National Police andArmed Forces of the Philippines for the deaths of these political opponents. Arroyo has condemned political killings "in the harshest possible terms" and urged witnesses to come forward.^{[59][60][61][62]}

An independent commission was assembled by Arroyo in August 2006 to investigate the killings. Headed by former Supreme Court JusticeJose Melo, the group known as theMelo Commission concluded that most of the killings were instigated by theArmed Forces of the Philippines, but found no proof linking the murder of activists to a "national policy" as claimed by the left-wing groups. On the other hand, the report "linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major generalJovito Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment."^[58] Palparan, who retired on September 11, 2006, has been appointed by Arroyo to be part of the Security Council; this has alarmed left-leaning political parties about the potential for human rights violations.^{[63][additional citation(s) needed]}

Under Arroyo's presidency, the Philippines in 2006 became second only to Iraq as the world's riskiest place to report the news, with 46journalists killed.^{[64][better source needed]}

In her 2007State of the Nation Address, Arroyo has set out her agenda for her last three years in office, and called for legislation to deal with a spate of political killings that have brought international criticism to her presidency. She promised to bring peace to the troubled south, and also defended a controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Arroyo told the joint session of Congress that "I would rather be right than popular."^[65] Lawmakers and lawyers, however, were dismayed by the SONA's failure to highlight and address this major hindrance to human rights. Specifically, theAlternative Law Groups (ALG) echoed the lawmakers’ position that Mrs Arroyo failed to take responsibility for the problem.^[66]

In 2007, incidents of extrajudicial killings dropped 87%, with the decline attributed to the creation of a special task force to handle the killings.^[67]

On September 5, 2007, Arroyo signed Amnesty Proclamation 1377 for members of theCommunist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, theNew People's Army; other communist rebel groups; and their umbrella organization, theNational Democratic Front. Theamnesty will cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes "in pursuit of political beliefs," but not including crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes for personal ends and violations of international law or convention and protocols "even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs".^[68]

The Arroyo administration has forged a strong relationship with theUnited States. Arroyo was one of the first world leaders who expressed support for the US-led coalition against global terrorism in the aftermath of theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, and remains one of its closest allies in thewar on terror.^[69] Following the US-ledinvasion of Iraq, in July 2003 the Philippines sent a small humanitarian contingent which included medics and engineers. These troops were recalled in July 2004 in response to the kidnapping of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.^[69] With the hostage takers demands met, the hostage was released.^[69] The force was previously due to leave Iraq the following month.^[69] The early pullout drew international condemnation, with the United States protesting against the action, saying giving in to terrorist demands should not be an option.^[69]

Arroyo's foreign policy is anchored on building strong ties with the United States,East Asian andSoutheast Asian nations, and countries whereoverseas Filipino workers work and live.^[70] In 2007, the Philippines was host to the 12thASEAN Summit inCebu City.^[71]

On August 21, 2007, Arroyo's administration asked theSenate of the Philippines to ratify a $4 billion (£2 billion) trade deal withJapan (signed on 2006 with then-Japanese prime ministerJunichiro Koizumi), which would create more than 300,000 jobs (by specifically increasing local exports such asshrimp to Japan). Japan also promised to hire at least 1,000 Philippine nurses. The opposition-dominated senate objected on the ground that toxic wastes would be sent to the Philippines; the government denied this due to the diplomatic notes which stated that it would not be accepting Japanese waste in exchange for economic concessions.^[72]

Arroyo is a member of theCouncil of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.^[73]

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Arroyo granted pardons to the following:

• Former PresidentJoseph Estrada (2007) - convicted ofplunder^[74]
• Pablo Martínez (2007) - convicted for being involved in theassassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.^[75]
• Claudio Teehankee, Jr. (2008) - convicted ofmurder^[76]
• Rogelio Moreno (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Rubén Aquino (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Arnulfo Artates (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Romeo Bautista (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Jesús Castro (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Arnulfo De Mesa (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Rodolfo Desolong (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Claro Lat (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Ernesto Mateo (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Filomeno Miranda (2009) - convicted for being involved in the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
• Former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos (2009) - convicted of rape

Arroyo was embroiled ina political controversy involving allegations thatAgriculture UndersecretaryJocelyn Bolante diverted₱728 million in fertilizer funds to Arroyo's2004 presidential election campaign.

In the middle of 2005,Samuel Ong, a former deputy director of the country'sNational Bureau of Investigation, claimed to have audio tapes of wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and an official of theCommission on Elections. According to Ong, the contents of the tape prove that the2004 national election was rigged by Arroyo in order to win by around one million votes. On June 27, Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking toa Comelec official, claiming it was a "lapse in judgement", but denied influencing the outcome of the election. Attempts to impeach Arroyo failed later that year.

Two witnesses,Antonio Rasalan andClinton Colcol, stepped forward in August 2006, claiming involvement in an alleged plot to alter the results for the May 2004 elections. Rasalan claimed that he was fully convinced that the election returns presented at the House of Representatives were manufactured and had replaced the original documents. Colcol, atabulator for theCommission on Elections, said that Arroyo only received 1,445 votes, whileFernando Poe Jr. received 2,141 inSouth Upi, Maguindanao during the May 2004 elections.^[77][78]

On January 25, 2008,Pulse Asiasurvey (commissioned byGenuine Opposition per former SenatorSergio Osmeña III) stated that 58% percent of Filipinos inMindanao believed that Arroyo cheated in the2004 Philippine general election. 70% also "believed that because of recurring allegations of election fraud, the credibility of the balloting process in Mindanao was at a record low."^[79]

ThePhilippine National Broadband Network controversy is a political affair that centers upon allegations of corruption primarily involving FormerCommission on Elections (COMELEC) ChairmanBenjamin Abalos, First GentlemanMike Arroyo and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network (NBN) for the Philippines and the awarding of its construction to the Chinese firmZhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited (ZTE), a telecommunications and networking equipment provider.

The issue has captivated Filipino politics since it erupted in Philippine media around August 2007, largely through the articles of newspaper columnistJarius Bondoc of thePhilippine Star. It has also taken an interesting turn of events, including the resignation of Abalos as COMELEC chairman, the alleged bribery of congressmen and provincial governors (dubbed as "Bribery in the Palace"), the unseating ofJose de Venecia, Jr. as House Speaker, and the alleged "kidnapping" of designated National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) consultant-turned-NBN/ZTE witnessRodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, Jr.^{[citation needed]}

In late July 2009, Arroyo went toNew York City to dine with her friends at a lushLe Cirque restaurant and was highly criticized for her supposed outlandish dinner there with the Philippine delegation during her visit to the United States. Arroyo and her group reportedly dined for the cost of $20,000 or₱1,000,000 as reported in theNew York Post (a few days beforeCorazon Aquinodied).^{[citation needed]}

The Northrail project was surrounded by a controversy since 1997. In 2004, Arroyo signed aMemorandum of agreement withSinomach and other contractors to construct a rail line fromCaloocan toClark Special Economic Zone to be completed in 2010. Many opposition senators and congressmen opposed, arguing that the project could cost US$500 million; this has led to corruption in the Arroyo cabinet and a series of cancellations.^{[citation needed]} After the rail line was constructed from 2009 to 2010, it was eventually cancelled again in March 2011, with no plans and foreign support to continue the project.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2009, Arroyo formally declared her intention to run for a seat in theHouse of Representatives representing the2nd District ofPampanga, making her the second Philippine President - afterJose P. Laurel - to pursue a lower office after the expiration of their presidency.^[80] A petition seeking to disqualify Arroyo from the race was dismissed by theComelec for lack of merit, a decision which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court.^[81] With little serious competition, she was elected to congress in May 2010 with a landslide victory.^[82] After receiving final military honors atthe inauguration ceremony of incoming PresidentBenigno Aquino III, she headed straight to Pampanga for her own oath-taking as congresswoman.^[83]

Arroyo was arrested on November 18, 2011, after aPasay court issued awarrant of arrest against her. This followed the filing of a complaint for electoral sabotage byCOMELEC. The arrest warrant was served atSt. Luke's Medical Center,Taguig where Arroyo had been confined. This and others resulted to corruption charges including her husband Mike and son Mikey. She was acquitted and released in 2016.^[84][85]

• Office of the President of the Philippines
• President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo official website
• Reporter's Notebook: Ang Palasyo Reporter's Notebook Special, 12/04/2007

• Presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
• Filipino women in politics
• Presidencies of the Philippines
• Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
• 2000s in the Philippines
• 2001 establishments in the Philippines
• 2004 establishments in the Philippines
• 2010 disestablishments in the Philippines
• 2010s in the Philippines

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