The continued refusal of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday to allow former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband, Mike, to leave the country, despite a Supreme Court ruling that she was free to seek medical care abroad, has drawn mixed reactions.

Arroyo was stopped from flying to Singapore at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday night, hours after the SC ruling.

The former president’s camp said she was suffering from fluctuating blood pressure yesterday and would try to leave for Singapore today.

De Lima said Arroyo's medical condition was not life-threatening, and insisted the travel ban on the ex-president would remain because the government suspected 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, adding that the government had asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

The SC is set to deliberate today on the government’s motion for reconsideration. 

The SC ruled on Tuesday that Arroyo was free to travel primarily because she had not been charged with any crime and was entitled to a presumption of innocence.

President Benigno Aquino has said that he expects Arroyo would be charged with corruption and electoral fraud before Christmas.

He and de Lima said last week when they announced the travel ban that they suspected she was using her medical condition as a ruse to flee the country and avoid prosecution.

But Arroyo's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, repeated yesterday that Arroyo and her husband did not intend to flee into exile.

"My clients have already said they will return. We have already said we will obey the law," he said.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said the matter should be considered very well by mature persons with consciences, who must take into account their responsibility to the nation and to the persons concerned.

Acting Negros Occidental Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr. said if the SC has ruled, the government should let Arroyo leave the country.

He said the dispute between the executive and judicial branches of government does not look good, and he hopes it does not create more divisiveness in the country.

“It should be resolved early to prevent a constitutional crisis,” Alvarez added.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), reacting to the bid of the former president to leave the country, said “The question right now is – is it for medical treatment?”

Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District) said “The government should submit to the SC ruling.”

“If they flee, even those who are sympathetic to them would explode,” he said.

“The palace is feeding fodder to what can easily turn into a constitutional crisis if it already isn’t,” Ledesma added.

Lawyer Andres Hagad said, as a Filipino, he supports de Lima for trying to protect the interest of the Filipino people but, as a lawyer, he thinks her bucking the general rule that a temporary restraining order is immediately executory, with few exemptions, puts her in a precarious situation.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino said the Supreme Court decision granting GMA a temporary restraining order against the DOJ and allowing her to leave the country does not serve the interest of justice.

“It ignores the fact that GMA is facing several investigations for serious crimes and it is in her interest not to return to face these charges. In other words, it ignores the reality that she is a serious flight risk,” he said.

Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (Cagayan, 1st District) said the refusal of the government to let Arroyo leave the country despite an SC ruling is unfortunate and certain individuals could be held in contempt.

“Institutionally the Supreme Court is the final arbiter,  if the national government does not respect the rule of law what will happen to the ordinary people…I hope they will find a resolution to it,” said Enrile, who was in Bacolod City yesterday.

He noted that until charges are filed against the former president, she has the right to leave the country.*CPG

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Acting Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said that since Arroyo is sick, maybe we should leave her alone and just file the appropriate cases against her if there are any.

There are apprehensions that she may run away. But if ever there are charges against her, it would be very difficult on her part to remain in hiding, he said.

But for humanitarian reasons, I believe that while she is undergoing treatment, she will just continue to face charges if there are any. Some of these cases are still in the Senate inquiry and we do not know if there has been a case already filed against her. We always follow the rule that a person is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

Councilor Roberto Rojas said he pities Arroyo, not just because she was a former president, but because she needs medical treatment. He has also received reports that she has lost weight.

He was surprised at the news that the government blocked her from leaving the country. “We have to respect the law,” he said.

He recalled that former President Joseph Estrada was also jailed before and was not given special treatment.*CGS

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