MANILA - Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may have missed President Rodrigo Duterte's inauguration today but she still feels hope and excitement at the start of his watch.

In a message issued by her office, the detained former president said: "This change comes not a moment too soon."

"I join the millions of Filipinos who feel the excitement in the air, who sense the awakening of hope, who have rediscovered new purpose and a new vision of their future."

Arroyo spent the most part of the last six years under the Aquino administration in detention, first for an electoral sabotage charge and when she was allowed to post bail for that, a plunder charge for allegedly misusing Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds.

Arroyo was also criticized by Aquino every opportunity he got during his watch.

Now, Arroyo can only feel gratitude that Duterte, who once served as her anti-crime adviser, is president.

"Thank you, President Duterte, for placing yourself at your people's disposal. They will not fail you, no less than they know you will not fail us. Mabuhay kayo at mabuhay ang Pilipinas!" she said.

Arroyo has rejected Duterte's offer of a presidential pardon for her case. Duterte has repeatedly said he doesn't see any strong evidence against the former president.

Why Arroyo declined Duterte's pardon offer

In her message, Arroyo said change has already come even before Duterte formally assumed office as president.

"Even before taking his oath on June 30, the portents of change started appearing. The peace process resumed in Oslo. Criminals and drug pushers began surrendering in droves. The business community was engaged in a frank and open-ended discussion of his economic agenda," she said.

Arroyo also paid tribute to the milestones set by Duterte's election.

"President Duterte has already broken precedent in notable ways. He is the first president to take the highest office in the land directly from local government office. He is the first president to hail from Mindanao, a vastly promising region that I also called home during my childhood. By all accounts, our new president may also be the first one to govern largely from outside Manila. This is a sign of his affinity with the masses and his impatience for change: the very reasons why he was entrusted with our leadership for the next six years," she said.

Arroyo extended her best wishes to Duterte on behalf of her constituents. She is on her final term as Pampanga congresswoman.

"On behalf of my family and my constituents in the 2nd district of Pampanga, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations and my heartfelt support to our new President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte."

Arroyo's plunder case is due for resolution by the Supreme Court soon.