ShareThisSpeaker gives former
President 45-day pass,
DoJ decision awaited
MANILA – Only the approval of the Department of Justice (DOJ) – and maybe President Aquino himself -remains before former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, husband Jose Miguel and two aides could travel overseas for medical treatment.
The Arroyos
The DoJ authority, however, remained dim on Thursday when the DoJ issued another watchlist order (WLO) against former President and now Pampanga congresswoman amidst criticism from Congress leaders that the WLO was illegal.
Also covered by the WLO are former First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, and several others.
Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III issued the WLO which is valid for a period of 60 days from Thursday unless terminated earlier or extended.
The Arroyo couple and 40 other respondents are facing charges of electoral sabotage in connection with the alleged manipulation of election results during the 2007 senatorial polls.
Under the WLO, the respondents are required to obtain an explicit clearance from the DOJ before they can leave the Philippines.
Paras ordered Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. to include in the BI’s watchlist the names of the respondents. The BI is an attached agency of the DOJ.
Subpoenas testificandum have already been sent to the respondents to appear before the DOJ-Commission on Elections (Comelec) committee for the conduct of the preliminary investigation on November 3, 2011 on the alleged electoral sabotage and violation of the Omnibus Election Code committed during the 2007 senatorial elections.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has also filed before the DOJ electoral sabotage charges against the respondents.
Also placed under the BI’s watchlist are former Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio; former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.; former DOJ Secretary Alberto Agra; former Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer; former Comelec Region XII Director Michael Abbas;
Former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.; former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol; former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas; former South Cotabato provincial election supervisor Atty. Lilian Suan-Radam; former North Cotabato provincial election supervisor Atty. Yogie Martirizar; Bong Serrano; Col. Reuben Basiao of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and several other ISAFP and Comelec officials.
The First Couple were earlier summoned by the DoJ Justice to appear next month at the opening of the preliminary investigation on election sabotage and violation of the Omnibus Election Code cases filed against them in connection with the alleged cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier approved Arroyo’s travel to seek medical treatment abroad, particularly in the United States and three other countries. The former president had three operations on cervical spine at St. Lukes Medical Center but now was found to be suffering from another rare disease which required medical experts abroad.
The St. Lukes Medical Center doctors said Mrs. Arroyo still needs to take medications for her bone mineral disorder and allowed her to get treatment abroad.
Mrs. Arroyo’s lawyer, Raul Lambino, said there was no need for her to attend the hearing, but they will submit their counter-affidavit on or before Nov. 3, the opening of the investigation. The Arroyos, through Lambino, earlier denied the charges filed against them.
A joint DoJ-Comelec investigating team composed of Comelec law department head Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec lawyer Michael Villaret, Laguna Provincial Prosecutor George Dee, and Pasig City Prosecutor Jacinto Ang had issued the summons for its preliminary investigation.
A key ally of President Aquino said the former President cannot be compelled to attend the preliminary investigation on electoral sabotage cases against her.
“Gloria Macapagal Arroyo need not personally appear at the Department of Justice (DOJ) preliminary investigation hearing as she can just send her lawyers. She cannot be forced to personally appear,” said House od Representatives Justice Committee Chairman Niel Tupas.
Belmonte issued travel authority for Mrs. Arroyo, accompanied by her husband, an aide and a private nurse, for 45 days from October 22 to December 5 in lieu of an earlier approved travel (September 18 to October 11). The first couple, however, could not leave yet as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has yet to issue the Allowed Departure Order (ADO).
Malacanang and Congress leaders, including Sen. Panfilo Lacson, have earlier said they were in favor of allowing Mrs. Arroyo to seek treatment abroad, but she has to make sure that she will be back to face the charges filed against her. Aside from the poll sabotage and poll law violations, Mrs. Arroyo is also facing plunder charges.
Others opposed her travel abroad, saying this could be a start of her escape.
At press time, Secretary de Lima said she could not issue the ADO without the recommendation of the Office of the Chief State Counsel or the DoJ’s legal staff, which processes the ADO.
De Lima remained confident that even if Mrs. Arroyo leaves the country, the former President will be represented by her legal counsels during the clarificatory hearings set to start on November 3.
Speaker Belmonte approved the travel passes for Congresswoman Arroyo to the United States, Germany, Spain, Singapore and Italy, where Mrs. Arroyo is supposed to seek medical opinions on her current condition.
Belmonte also allowed the former president to travel with former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, an aide-de-camp, and a private nurse.
Others summoned by DoJ to the initial hearing were former Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, former Justice secretary Alberto Agra, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., former regional election director for Soccksargen Michael Abas, Colonel Reuben Basiao, former ISAFP director for Soccsksargen, ISAFP Major Joey Leaban, lawyer Jaime Paz, chief of staff of Abalos, Romy Dayday (PSG) and Jeremy Javier (ISAFP).
Also summoned were Jeehan Nur, Alice Lim, Norijean Hangkal, Christina Dalope and Maceda Abo, Estelita Orbase, Elisa Gasmin, Elsa Atinen, Saliao Amba, Magsaysay Mohamad, Asuncion Reniedo, Nena Alid, Ma. Susan Albano, Rohaida Khalid, Araw Cao, Salonga Edzela, Ragah Ayunan, Susan Cabanban, Russam Mabang.