MANILA(Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2011) – Philippine authorities have prevented former president and now congresswoman Gloria Arroyo from leaving the country late Tuesday for medical treatment abroad.
Arroyo, wearing a halo vest and dust mask just below her nose, was accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and their supporters when she arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport shortly before 8 p.m. for a flight to Singapore, but immigration authorities said there was an order from the Department of Justice barring the couple from leaving.
Her group left an hour later and proceeded to the St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig City.
The Supreme Court issued an order that allows Arroyo from leaving the country to seek medical attention for a rare bone disease, in at least 5 nations where the Philippineshas no extradition treaty.
Those who voted in favor of Arroyo’s travel abroad were Chief Justice Renato Corona and 7 other Arroyo appointees – Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, and Jose Perez.
And those who were not in favor were Senior Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Maria Lourdes Sereno, Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Bernabe and Jose Mendoza.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they have not received the order of the Supreme Court. She said they will invoke legal remedies and among these is a motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court order.
Arroyo is facing plunder charges among other crimes and De Lima fears that the former president would not return home to face trial. (Mindanao Examiner)
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