MANILA - The husband of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday described as harassment the cases filed by the Aquino administration against Mrs. Arroyo.

In a Facebook post, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo labeled former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima as "unjust" and said: "Harassment is what PNoy did to GMA and [former Chief Justice Renato] Corona using the power of the state."

"Cases filed by citizens against PNoy and his Cabinet are not harassment but the remedy the citizens have against the unjust acts of PNoy and the former officials."

In a separate Facebook post, Arroyo also lashed out at Aquino's former deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte.

"Harassment happens when the government uses the power of the state against its citizens, just like what PNoy did to GMA and Corona. In this case, it's the citizens asserting their rights against the injustice and corruption of PNoy."

In 2011, De Lima prevented former President Arroyo from travelling overseas to have her cervical spine checked despite the issuance of a Supreme Court restraining order stopping any attempt to impair Arroyo's right to travel.

De Lima argued that their case is pending appeal. At that time, De Lima was in the process of indicting Arroyo for an electoral sabotage case in connection with the 2007 national elections.

Charges against Aquino were filed before the Ombudsman last week in connection with the disbursement acceleration program.

Presidents lose their immunity from lawsuit at the expiration of their six-year terms of office.

Valte earlier dismissed the complaints against Aquino as harassment.

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