DEFERS TRAVELLING; WEAK, STRESSED
[PHOTO - Former
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is shown during her attempt to leave the
country the other night.]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 18,
2011 (STAR) By Paolo Romero - Former President and now
Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called off another attempt to leave the
country yesterday after her blood pressure went up, her legal spokesman said.
Raul Lambino said Arroyo had to take a rest following the "stress" caused by
the standoff at the airport late Tuesday.
Arroyo's spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn told ANC that they would try to
leave today.
Lambino said Arroyo is confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig
City where her health condition is closely being monitored.
Lambino described Arroyo as "mahina (frail)" and "tired" because of what
happened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Tuesday.
"She felt bad and her blood pressure went up. She may have to postpone (her
travel plans) and will take a rest," Lambino said.
Arroyo, who is being investigated for corruption, was stopped at the airport
from leaving the country late Tuesday.
The former president went by ambulance to the NAIA Terminal 1 and she and her
husband Jose Miguel Arroyo tried to board a flight to Hong Kong hours after the
Supreme Court imposed a temporary restraining order (TRO) on a government ban on
them traveling overseas.
Immigration officials, acting on the orders of Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima, stopped the Arroyos from boarding their flight and after the standoff, the
former president was taken back to hospital.
Horn said Arroyo would be taking the day off after the traumatic experience
she went through at the airport late Tuesday.
According to Horn, Arroyo's blood pressure shot up, prompting doctors to
order the insertion of an IV tube on the former leader.
She said Arroyo suffered frequent numbness in certain parts of her upper
body.
Mr. Arroyo, for his part, said his wife has been quiet after they returned to
the hospital following the incident at the NAIA.
"God forbid, if anything happens to my wife, I'll blame De Lima and P-Noy
(President Aquino)," Mr. Arroyo told The STAR in a telephone interview.
"She's already lost a lot of weight. She's already pitiful and fragile. But I
can clearly see that she's pained even as she rarely talks," he said.
Mr. Arroyo also slammed Malacañang's spokespersons for branding their attempt
to leave as "high drama" to gain sympathy from the public.
He said they were exercising their right to travel that was effectively
upheld by the SC.
"It seems these people are power mad. They're the ones supposed to uphold the
law but now they're the ones breaking the law. How tragic," Mr. Arroyo said.
Horn added immigration officials at the airport did not release the passports
of the Arroyos in time for their scheduled 9:30 p.m. flight for Singapore via
Hong Kong.
Horn said the Arroyos cancelled their planned trip to Singapore yesterday
afternoon via Singapore Airlines flight SQ919 that was scheduled to leave at
5:10 p.m.
Horn said she had requested for another 20 access passes for the sendoff
parties of the couple that include nine vehicles and the use of the dignitaries'
lounge.
Horn said she hopes that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will finally follow
the SC order and allow the Arroyos to leave.
She also debunked claims that airport officials did not try to hold off the
Arroyos.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said immigration
officers at the NAIA had no choice but to follow De Lima's directive to
implement the watchlist order against the Arroyos.
"Until such time that the watchlist order against them is lifted by the DOJ,
we cannot allow them to leave," David stressed.
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said that the Aquino administration
should respect the SC's decision that issued the TRO on the travel ban against
the Arroyos.
"Well, we should really follow the process here in the country. If that is
what the SC said, we have to bow to that also," Ledesma said.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the Arroyos were free to travel. He said
failing to heed the SC ruling could be contempt of court.
Marquez warned the government was in clear breach of an order from the
highest judicial authority in the country.
"Of course, it's not a good message that the public is getting from two
coequal branches of government, one defying the legitimate order of the other,"
Marquez told ABS-CBN television.
"They have no other option but to comply with the order."
Marquez said those who refused to enforce the SC ruling risked being charged
with contempt, punishable by six months in prison.
But De Lima said that was not the case.
"I will look at the TRO and then file a motion for reconsideration with the
high court," De Lima told dzBB radio, referring to the TRO issued by the SC.
"Our position is that since there is a motion for reconsideration, the high
court's TRO should not yet be implemented," she said.
De Lima said Arroyo's medical condition was not life threatening, and
insisted the travel ban on the former president would remain because the
government believed she wanted to flee into exile.
"We will not allow her to leave unless there is a medical emergency. That is
clear," De Lima told reporters yesterday.
The Arroyo camp said the former president needs medical treatment overseas
for a spinal problem.
But the government, which is investigating allegations against Arroyo of
electoral fraud and corruption, is worried the couple could travel to a country
which does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines.
The government has not charged Arroyo with any offense but President Aquino
has said authorities intended to file charges before yearend.
The DOJ has been investigating the Arroyos for their role in suspected
election rigging in 2004 and 2007. They were also facing corruption inquiries in
connection with several government contracts.
Arroyo was president for nine years from 2001 until 2010.
The SC said Arroyo could travel abroad on three conditions: a cash bond of P2
million, the appointment of a legal representative, and for her to appear before
a Philippine embassy or consulate official abroad. –With Aie
Balagtas See, Rudy Santos, Evelyn Macairan
GMA defers planned trip today - spokesperson By
Dennis Carcamo (The Philippine Star) Updated November 17, 2011 08:52 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has deferred
plans of leaving the country today, her spokesperson announced.
"[Former] President Arroyo herself decided that she cannot risk another
confrontation again at the airport today," spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn
said, referring to the standoff between Mrs. Arroyo's entourage and immigration
officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday night.
Horn noted that the former Chief Executive still feels weak and her blood
pressure continues to fluctuate. She added that Mrs. Arroyo can already walk
around her room, but her doctors required continuing her intravenous hydration.
Meanwhile, she said that Mrs. Arroyo still plans to leave and seek medical
treatment abroad, citing the Supreme Court's (SC) temporary restraining order
against the Department of Justice's (DOJ) watchlist order.
"Ang sigurado po tayo ay hindi bibiyahe ngayun ang dating Pangulo. She feels
weak dahil nangyari last Tuesday na pati yung gate pass nya winala nila... It's
very stressful po sa kanya," Horn said.
Despite Tuesday's standoff at the airport, the Arroyo camp planned to leave
for Singapore yesterday. However, she was not allowed by her doctors after her
blood pressure shot up.
The former President is now confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center.
With several missed appointments with foreign specialists, Horn said that
they are now trying to reschedule Mrs. Arroyo for other medical appointments
abroad. She added that they have also deferred bookings for the former
president.
"Yes we are now rescheduling her appointments, but there are still no
bookings as of the moment... Marami na ring cancelled appointments kaya baka
mahirapan na makakuha uli," she said.
Horn, meanwhile, said that they may be able to travel out of the country
tomorrow if Mrs. Arroyo's condition stabilizes today.
Mrs. Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, attempted to leave the
country Tuesday night after the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on
the travel ban imposed on her by the DOJ.
They were, however, prevented by airport and immigration officers from
leaving upon orders of DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima and Transportation and
Communications Secretary Mar Roxas.
Horn said that Mrs. Arroyo was supposed to leave for Singapore today, where
she was to meet a specialist for her hypoparathyroidism at noon.
From Singapore, the former president planned to fly to Germany. Her earlier
itinerary included Spain, but it was cancelled because she missed her
appointment.
De Lima believes that the SC's TRO was not yet executory pending the oral
arguments set by the high court next week. She advised all concerned agencies
that the watchlist orders she issued against the Arroyos were still in effect.
Even after receiving the TRO's copy yesterday, the justice secretary
maintained that the travel ban stays. The DOJ and the office of the Solicitor
General have filed an urgent motion for reconsideration on the TRO, which will
be tackled by the justices on Friday during a special en banc session.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez had insisted that the high court's order was
already executory. He had warned government officials from preventing anew the
Arroyos from leaving the country. -- Angelo L. Gutierrez
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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