Palace to let DOJ deal with SC ruling on Mike Arroyo watch list order

Malacañang on Wednesday said it will let the Department of Justice (DOJ) deal with the Supreme Court's decision stopping the implementation of the watch list order against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. "The DOJ will take the opportunity to defend the power of the secretary to settle the matter finally," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said, adding that the Palace "respects the SC ruling." On Tuesday, the high tribunal, voting 13-0, issued a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of the Department of Justice’s watch list order against Mr. Arroyo. SC spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the watch list order violated Mr. Arroyo’s constitutional right to travel as there is no pending case against him. On August 12, Mr. Arroyo asked the high court to nullify Watchlist Order No. 2011-410 dated August 4, 2011 and DOJ Circular No. 41 for being unconstitutional. The department circular, issued by former Justice Secretary Alberto Agra in May 2010, empowers the DOJ secretary to issue watch list orders against persons who are subjects of investigations. An individual placed on the Immigration watch list must first ask the DOJ to lift the order before he or she can travel abroad. The person must also present the government-issued clearance before leaving the country. It is less restrictive than a hold departure order, which automatically bars an individual from leaving the country. Senate blue ribbon probe The watch list order against Mr. Arroyo stemmed from the Senate blue ribbon committee's request to place him on the Immigration watch list. The Senate panel is looking into Philippine National Police's acquisition of multi-million peso secondhand helicopters in 2009. Shortly after the decision was announced on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima vowed to defend the issuance of the watch list order before the SC. "While [it is] a disappointing development, it's not really surprising that a TRO was issued considering that this is the first time that the Secretary of Justice's power to issue [watch list orders] has been squarely raised before the high court," De Lima said in a text message. "The DOJ will take this opportunity to defend such power of its Secretary and to let this matter be settled once and for all. It's a challenge to us to prepare and articulate before the SC solid and convincing arguments in support of our position," she added. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ/LBG, GMA News