House OKs Arroyo's longer stay abroad

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. today approved former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's request to travel abroad for medical treatment for 45 days.

This after the camp of the former president asked for the approval of an amended request for travel abroad, which was approved by Belmonte early this month.

The initially approved travel authority was for Mrs. Arroyo's travel abroad from September 18 to October 11, 2011. The newly-approved travel authority is from October 22 to December 5.

The House leader approved travel passes for Mrs. 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 her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, an aide-de-camp, and a private nurse.

Despite the approved travel authority, Mrs. Arroyo could not leave the country pending the Department of Justice's (DOJ) approval of the travel request. She is currently under the Bureau of Immigration's watchlist order.

The House's approval of the amended request to travel abroad came as the joint panel of the DOJ and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), investigating the alleged cheating during the 2007 elections, served a subpoena to Mrs. Arroyo and other respondents in the election sabotage case filed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.

The former President's summons was received by her political affairs officer, Mellet Herrera.

The President is requested to appear before the joint panel, headed by Prosecutor Generla Claro Arellano on November 3 at 2 p.m. to submit her counter-affidavit.

Arroyo's lawyer, Raul Lambino, had said that they may file the counter-affidavit earlier than the deadline. He, however, said that there was no need for Mrs. Arroyo to be physically present in the proceedings.

Aside from the subpoena to Mrs. Arroyo, the team of Arellano was also scheduled to serve summons to the former first gentleman and former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos.

The joint DOJ-COMELEC task force will start its initial hearing on Nov. 3 at the DOJ multi-purpose hall, where it sought the presence of all respondents or their counsels.

Other personalities summoned 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. 

Not delaying Arroyo's travel

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied that she is delaying the release of the Allowed Departure Order (ADO) for the former president.

De Lima said that she could not approve Arroyo's request for travel abroad without the recommendation of the Office of the Chief State Counsel or the department's legal staff, which processes the ADO.

She said that the legal staff could not make a recommendation because the failure of Arroyo's camp to complete the requirements for the ADO request.

She said that it was only today that the camp of the congresswoman submitted the additional requirements, which includes a medical abstract of Mrs. Arroyo.

De Lima said that they asked for the medical abstract since the reason cited by Arroyo to travel abroad was for medical treatment.

She said that they also would like to know to what country and if there was already a schedule for the medical treatment of the lady lawmaker abroad.

However, De Lima clarified that she was not saying that she would not allow Arroyo's request to seek medical treatment abroad, only that it should go through the process. -- Jun Pasaylo