THE Palace on Thursday said it was the prerogative of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo to go into exile while seeking treatment in Germany for hypoparathyroidism, a rare hormonal condition.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace would not block Arroyo’s trip to Munich as they were taking her travel request in “good faith.”
“There’s no hold-departure. She is free to travel,” he said.
Asked if the Palace was worried Arroyo might not return after President Benigno Aquino III vowed to file the first government case against her in November, Lacierda said it was up to the ailing Pampanga lawmaker if she wanted to stay away.
“That is up to her. It’s her prerogative,” he said.
“But we will take her word for it that she is going to Germany to seek medical treatment, and we assume that it was a statement made in good faith.”
Arroyo has obtained permission from Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to travel abroad for treatment. Her condition was discovered in August after three operations to correct her injured spine.
Lacierda’s remarks contradicted those of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s, who said Arroyo would have to seek government permission before leaving the country because she was on Immigration’s watch list in connection with the plunder complaints filed against her.
“Upon proper application, we might favorably consider [her request to leave] since several officials have already expressed approval of her treatment abroad,” De Lima said.
Arroyo is said to have hypoparathyroidism, which blocks calcium production and hinders the healing of her neck bones despite the placement of bone grafts from her hips.
Her husband, Jose Miguel, said the disease could be treated, but there were no specialists in it in the country.
Jose Miguel on Thursday was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman over the sale of used helicopters to the National Police that were passed off as brand-new in 2009. Joyce Pangco Pañares, Macon-Ramos Araneta
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BY WENDELL VIGILIA
MALAYA
MALAYA
THE family of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo is already preparing to bring her abroad for medical treatment, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said yesterday.
Belmonte also said he is expecting the Arroyo camp to seek a new travel authority from him.
Belmonte on Wednesday said Arroyo filed three travel requests on September 15, and he has approved these.
But all the schedules have lapsed. The requests were for travel authorities to New York for the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting and Medical Consultation which was scheduled September 18-27; to Geneva for the regional consultation meetings of the International Commission against Death Penalty, October 10 to 11; and Munich for a medical consultation set September 28 to October 6.
After spinal surgery in August, Arroyo was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism, a condition which could lead to problems with bones, muscles, skin, and nerve endings.
Arroyo’s camp has said there might not be a specialist on hypoparathyroidism in the country.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Arroyo is free to travel to Germany to seek medical treatment,
“It’s her prerogative (to travel). I cannot speak for Representative Arroyo and what the best course of action that she will take in this situation. But we will take her word for it that she is going to Germany to seek medical treatment and we assume that it was a statement made in good faith,” he said.
Arroyo is required to seek clearance from the justice secretary to travel abroad. She was placed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the watch list order on August 8, following the filing of three plunder, graft and poll fraud charges against her before the Department of Justice. The order lasts 60 days.
De Lima yesterday said she would consider allowing Arroyo to travel abroad and seek medical treatment, for humanitarian reasons.
Belmonte expressed confidence Arroyo would return if she decides to seek treatment abroad.
“The moment you don’t come back means you’re guilty,” he said.
On the government’s plan to file cases against Arroyo by next month, Belmonte said, “Sana naman huwag dahas-dahas kundi pagbutihin ang ebidensya. If I were in their shoes, I’ll make sure that the first case I’ll file will be a strong case, yung may dating.”
Lacierda dismissed the allegation of Arroyo’s spokesman, Raul Lambino that the Aquino administration is obsessed with embarrassing the former president.
He said Lambino should just focus on defending his client before the Ombudsman.
“Just defend your principals in the Ombudsman instead of mouthing that …propaganda line,” he said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Evangeline de Vera
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