De Lima: DOJ won't oppose Gloria Arroyo treatment abroad

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the Department of Justice will no longer oppose in case former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would request permission to travel abroad for medical treatment – if indeed her current health condition is "life-threatening." De Lima's statement came after reports Mrs. Arroyo's condition worsened after the metal plating implanted to remedy a spinal problem protruded to her esophagus, causing a choking sensation. De Lima refused to comment further on the matter but told reporters: "kung life-threatening, hindi na... malamang hindi na kami mag-o-oppose." However, De Lima noted that the Pasay court hearing Arroyo's electoral sabotage case will have the final say on whether to allow the Rep. Gloria Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. Mrs. Arroyo 'in pain' An ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the Pampanga lawmaker is ‘in pain,’ a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” said Friday. Occidental Mindoro Rep. Ma. Amelita Villarosa also told GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo that she saw how Mrs. Arroyo suffer from her health condition. Asked if Arroyo should seek permission to travel abroad for treatment, Villarosa said she opted not to interfere with the decision of Arroyo's doctors. In a separate interview on Balitanghali, a known Arroyo ally House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the former President is ‘sad.’ “Malungkot daw itong si Mrs. Arroyo noong huli niya itong makita. Hindi raw maganda ang resulta ng pagsusuri kay Mrs. Arroyo pero hindi na niya ito idinetalye,” Aguinaldo reported. Mrs. Arroyo's sons Camarines Sur Rep. Datu and Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo kept silent on their mother’s condition. “Ayon kay Lakas-Kampi-CMD President Bong Revilla, ayaw muna nilang intindihin ni Mrs. Arroyo ang mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa kanilang partido para maka-focus umano ito sa pagpapagaling,” the report said. Earlier on Friday, Malacañang refused to comment on the possibility that Mrs. Arroyo would seek permission to travel abroad. At a press briefing, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang has yet to get an official confirmation on Arroyo's medical condition. “We have not received any official word on the findings. The Inquirer report only mentioned a source, quoting Dr. (Robert) Anastacio,” he said. Late last year, Mrs. Arroyo – who at the time was placed on the immigration watch list – sought but failed to secure permission from the government to leave the Philippines to seek medical consultation and treatment abroad. Mrs. Arroyo brought up the watch list order to the Supreme Court and succeeded in securing a temporary restraining order (TRO). De Lima, however, still prevented Arroyo from leaving, claiming that she did not receive the TRO on time. Soon after, the Commission on Elections filed electoral sabotage charges against Mrs. Arroyo, prompting the Pasay City court to issue a hold departure order and a warrant for her arrest. She is currently under hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan and Amita O. Legaspi /LBG, GMA News