Arroyo couple stopped from leaving Philippines Wednesday, November 16, 2011
MANILA — The government blocked former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband from leaving the country Tuesday despite a Supreme Court (SC) order that allowed the couple to travel.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said they will appeal the SC decision, adding the Temporar
a motion for reconsideration has been filed.
Arroyo is expected to see her doctors abroad after suffering from hypoparathyroidism and bone mineral disorder.
Accompanied by her husband Juan Miguel and son Ang Galing party-list Representative Mikey Arroyo, the former President arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in an ambulance and was wheeled into a departure hall wearing a facemask and a neck brace around 8:20 p.m.
The Arroyo reportedly booked at least five different flights to Singapore, said DOJ Secretary de Lima.
The first two flights were scheduled at 4 p.m. via Philippine Airlines (PAL) and 5 p.m. via Singapore Airlines, but these flights were cancelled because the former First Couple did not appear.
Three other bookings were supposedly made via PAL and Singapore Airlines scheduled at 7:35 p.m., 7:55 p.m., and 9 p.m., respectively.
The Arroyos were ushered into a VIP lounge while their lawyers, armed with the SC decision, tried to persuade immigration officials to allow them to board a Dragon Air flight bound for Hong Kong.
Arroyo’s spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said in a television interview late Tuesday that they booked for a flight bound for Hong Kong instead, since they missed the flights that were bound for Singapore. She clarified, though, that Arroyo’s destination was Singapore.
She said they planned to go to Spain after Singapore to meet Arroyo’s bone mineral disorder specialist.
After about two hours at the NAIA, however, Arroyo’s lawyer Raul Lambino said the immigration officials, upon the instructions of de Lima, had prevented the couple from leaving.
“They weren’t able to board the airplane,” Lambino said, accusing the government of inflicting “inhumane, cruel punishment” on his client.
Arroyo and her husband later left the airport in the ambulance and headed to St. Luke’s Medical Hospital in Taguig City where Arroyo was to be checked for stress, said an ally, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.
“They are very mean. They are very cruel,” husband Jose Miguel Arroyo said of the government. “I feel sad. I feel mad. How can they refuse to follow the Supreme Court order? That is tyranny.”
The Arroyo camp vowed to file charges against de Lima and the immigration officials who prevented the former First Couple from leaving the country.
But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the former First Couple, being investigated for alleged corruption and electoral cheating, would be treated with dignity but “we will be firm in our decision not to allow them to leave the country.”
“This is all high drama. They want the public to sympathize with them,” he said.
De Lima also maintained in a television interview that she ordered the Bureau of Immigration to direct the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the NAIA “to exhaust all actions to implement the watch list orders.”
She maintained that she is not violating any law, and that she takes full responsibility for the order.
De Lima stressed that the watch list orders will stay until the government receives a copy of the SC decision. She also said the order could still not be implemented until the High Court decides on the appeal that the Office of the Solicitor General will file upon receipt of the ruling.
But SC spokesperson Midas Marquez begged to disagree as he warned Tuesday those who will actually defy the order that they may face contempt charges.
“I hope they will realize that this was issued after a full court deliberation, there were concurring votes, and there were dissenting votes. It has to be respected and accepted, that’s the rule of law. But let’s see. I don’t think there’s no actual defiance yet,” he told reporters.
“They are free to exercise their constitutional rights,” Marquez added.
De Lima clarified that the Arroyos will not be arrested when spotted in the airport but only be barred from leaving.
She also insisted that there is “no life and death situation” in Arroyo’s medical condition.
The 64-year-old former President is facing a string of plunder and electoral sabotage cases as she asked the court to allow her to travel after suffering from hypoparathyroidism and bone mineral disorder.
Arroyo’s husband also benefitted from the injunction order after the court consolidated the separate petitions filed last week by the lawyers of the ex-First Couple, said Marquez.
The SC spokesperson also said the court voted 8-5 in favor of Arroyo’s request but she can only leave the country after fulfilling some requirements.
These include the payment of P2-million bail bond, appointment of legal representatives who can receive legal documents such as subpoena, orders, and other legal processes while the Arroyos are out of the country.
Both these requisites were fulfilled by the former First Gentleman’s legal representative Ferdinand Topacio, who paid the cash bond to Araceli Layuga, SC collection and disbursement officer, around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Upon arrival at their chosen destination, the SC said the Arroyo couple should also inform the Philippine Embassy or consulate about their whereabouts “at all times” either by personal appearance or by phone.
Topacio said Arroyo will immediately see her doctors in Singapore after failing to show up three times.
“She really needs to have a medical check-up. I think she has an appointment tomorrow (Wednesday),” he said, adding the former presidential couple had no plans of evading prosecution.
The DOJ was asked to give comment in three days as the court scheduled an oral argument on the watch list orders against the Arroyo couple on November 22 at 2 p.m.
Arroyo, now a Pampanga lawmaker, already secured a travel authority from the House Secretary General to leave the country from October 22 to December 5.
Arroyo’s request indicated travel to the United States of America, Germany, Singapore, Spain, and Italy. But in her final itinerary submitted to the DOJ, Arroyo dropped the US and Italy from the list. (Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran/Jonathan de Santos/Kathrina Alvarez/AP/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/16/arroyo-couple-stopped-leaving-philippines-190830
Categories
- 19th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark
- 2012 Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Philippines Ticket Reservation Form Support Section
- About Angeles City, Pampanga
- About Anti-mosquito patches to prevent Dengue in Philippines
- About Asian cuisine and food of Asia
- About Clark Development Corporation CDC
- About Clark, Freeport Zone
- About Coffee
- About Easter in Clark Philippines
- About Family Bonding and Children
- About Fishing
- About Holy Week and Easter in Philippines
- About Holy Week and Easter in Philippines
- About Hot Air Balloon
- About Italian Food
- About Leisure, Stress and Relaxation
- About Mother's Day and Mother's Day Celebration
- About Nespresso Coffee, Nespresso Coffee Capsules and Pods
- About spa, places to unwind and relax
- About Subic, Baguio and Bulacan
- About the Philippines
- About the Philippines, Pampanga, Clark, and Angeles City
- About Wedding and Receptions
- Advisory and useful travel tips
- Alfresco Outdoor Dining in Clark
- All about Steaks
- All about steaks
- All News & Press Releases Archive
- Articles About Holy Week in Philippines
- Beach resorts and hotels in Clark
- Birthday, debut, baptismal, anniversary etc
- Boating and Kayaking
- Build or buy a house in Clark
- Business and investment in Clark
- Business in Clark
- Business Opportunities in Clark
- Camping and picnic
- Car and Taxi Service in Clark
- Clark
- Clark Events Archive
- Clark Flight schedules
- Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival Complaints and Suggestions
- Clark Information
- Clark Investments Archive
- Clark Job Market Archive
- Clark Map
- Company outings and corporate events
- Condominium and Apartment in Clark
- Convenience Stores in Clark
- Corruption in Philippines, Pampanga, Subic, Clark Freeport Zone
- Culinary School in Philippines
- Doing Business in Clark
- Dormitory and Apartment Sharing
- Duty free malls in Clark
- Entertainment
- Event Venues in Clark and Pampanga
- Family outings, reunions and retreats
- Family restaurants and Fast food outlets
- Family retreat, picnics and bonding
- Fine dining Gourmet Foie Gras Cuisine
- Fine Dining Gourmet Kangaroo Cuisine
- Fine Dining Kangaroo Cuisine
- Fine dining restaurants
- Food & Beverage Archive
- Food and Beverage in Clark
- Foreigner and Tourist Assistance in Clark Archive
- Functions and events
- Games and activities for outings and picnics
- Getting around in Clark
- Getting Married in Clark and Pampanga
- Golf
- Gourmet Dining Foie Gras
- Gourmet Dining Venison Cuisine
- Gourmet Venison Cuisine
- Highly Recommended Hotels and Resorts
- Historical sites, places to see and visit
- History of Clark
- Holding a Dinner Party
- Holiday and Vacation in Philippines
- Holy Week and Easter Holiday
- Holy Week and Easter in Clark Philippines
- Holy Week and Easter Packages and Deals
- Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Philippines
- Hot Air Balloon Packages & Deals
- Hotel Accommodations Archive
- HOTEL and RESORTS
- Hotels & Resorts in Angeles Pampanga
- Hotels & Resorts in Clark
- Hotels and Resorts in Pampanga
- Hotels and Resorts in Philippines
- Hotels and Resorts in the North
- Hotels and Resorts near Manila
- Internet WIFI spots in Clark Philippines
- Investing in Philippines
- Investment and business opportunities
- Investment in Philippines
- Italian, French and continental cuisine
- Jobs and Careers
- Jobs in Angeles, Clark, Pampanga
- Jobs in Manila, Philippines
- Korean, Chinese and Japanese Food
- Koreans in Philippines
- Land for development
- Laws and Regulations in Clark
- Learn about wine
- Learn English in Philippines
- Leisure and recreation
- Lifestyle in Asia
- Lifestyle in Clark and Pampanga
- Liquor and Wine Shops in Clark
- Listing of businesses in Clark
- Living in Clark and Pampanga
- Manila Bus Hostage Incident 2010
- More about Holy Week and Easter Holidays
- More About Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark Pampanga
- More about Weddings and receptions
- Mother's Day in Philippines
- News
- News about Hot Air Balloon
- News in Manila and North Luzon
- News in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark, Subic
- Nightlife, casinos and entertainment
- Organizing a Cocktail Party
- Organizing company events
- Organizing Company outing
- Organizing Team Building Events
- Organizing Team Building Events
- Other restaurants, café and dining outlets
- Other shopping in Clark
- Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone or Establishment Grievances and Complaints
- Pampanga Information
- Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
- Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Pampanga
- Places to go in Clark Archive
- Politics and Opinion
- Press Releases
- Product launching and marketing events
- Real Estate, Properties and Deals
- Residential village and subdivision
- Restaurants and Bars in Clark, Pampanga
- Resto Bars, Clubs and Pubs
- Resume Database
- Retirement in Clark
- Retiring in Clark Archive
- Rules & Regulations of Clark Freeport
- Safety, Law and Order in Pampanga
- Scenic spots, tourist destinations in Clark
- School Camp in Clark
- School Camp in Philippines
- Shopping
- Shopping Archive
- Short-term lease
- Sightseeing and Tourist Spots
- Social and company events planning
- Sports and outdoor events
- Sports and Recreation in Clark and Pampanga
- Sports and Recreation in Clark Archive
- Swimming and Water sports
- Teambuilding and planning
- The Clark Lifestyle
- The Green World of Clark Philippines
- THINGS TO DO IN CLARK
- Tourism and Travel
- Tourism in Clark
- Travel Accommodations Archive
- Travel agencies and airline offices
- Trekking and horseback riding
- Vacation Rental
- Vegetarian Food and Vegan Cuisine
- Vegetarian food, vegan restaurants
- Vintners' Hall of Fame
- Visit Angeles City Pampanga
- Visit Clark Philippines
- Visit Manila Philippines
- Wedding Planners, Caterers & Event Venues in Philippines
- Wedding Planning, Organization and Services
- Wedding reception Venues in Clark
- What's Happening in Clark
- Wining & Dining Archive