De Lima to Mike Arroyo: I am sorry for Immigration fiasco

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday afternoon apologized to former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for her public statements that he did not go through the usual Immigration process when he left for Hong Kong last Sunday. In a text message to reporters, De Lima said the Bureau of Immigration has just informed her that Mr. Arroyo indeed lined up at the Immigration counter before leaving the country. "Having verified from the BI about an hour ago that indeed, former FG Mike Arroyo went through the Immigration counter, I humbly apologize to him, on behalf of the BI for apparently giving me an erroneous info yesterday and/or for committing certain lapses," said De Lima. Earlier in the day, De Lima told reporters that Mr. Arroyo's departure record could not be found and that the former First Gentleman had someone else facilitate the processing of his Immigration documents.

This earned the ire of Mr. Arroyo's lawyer, Inocencio Ferrer Jr., who said that the former First Gentleman did not receive special treatment and in fact, lined up at the Immigration counter. He then presented Mr. Arroyo's travel documents to attest to the former First Gentleman's departure for Hong Kong last Sunday. Ferrer then called on the Justice chief to issue a public apology to Mr. Arroyo. In response, De Lima then said she was sorry for the "lapse" but said that she still wants to know the "true case for the wrong information" given to her by the Bureau of Immigration. "The matter is now under investigation, particularly the Immigration officer who processed FG's documents," she added. Where the fiasco began The question on the existence of Mr. Arroyo's departure records was raised last Thursday, when the DOJ placed Mr. Arroyo on the watch list even if he is already abroad receiving medical treatment. Before issuing the watch list order, De Lima said the BI had no record of Mr. Arroyo's departure. She added that she has inquired with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which records chartered and non-commercial flights, if it has information on Mr. Arroyo's departure. De Lima said the issuance of the watch list order against Mr. Arroyo will not be rendered useless because once the former First Gentleman returns to the Philippines, Immigration authorities are tasked to report to the DOJ that he is back in the country. The DOJ will then inform the Senate blue ribbon committee, which requested the issuance of the order, of Mr. Arroyo's return. Also placed on the watch list is Rowena del Rosario, Mr. Arroyo's alleged secretary. The name "Rowena del Rosario" appears in the incorporation papers of La Vista Investment Holdings, Inc., a company declared in former President Arroyo's Statements of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALNs) in 2008 and 2009. Mr. Arroyo and del Rosario are subjects of the Senate blue ribbon committee's inquiry into the Philippine National Police's multi-million purchase of "brand new" helicopters, which were supposedly owned by Mr. Arroyo previously. Mr. Arroyo has denied selling used helicopters to the PNP in 2009. — RSJ, GMA News