DOJ lifts watch list order vs Mike Arroyo

(Updated 1:09 p.m.) Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday ordered the removal of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo from the Bureau of Immigration's watch list. In Lifting Order No. 297, De Lima said the move stemmed from the Senate blue ribbon committee's indication that it is no longer inclined to invite Mr. Arroyo to attend its inquiry into the Philippine National Police's purchase of helicopters in 2009. "....the subject WLO [watch list order] is hereby lifted insofar as it affects Atty. Arroyo, and the Commissioner of Immigration is ordered to delete his name in the Bureau's watch list, unless he is the subject of another WLO in another case or cases," De Lima said. Senate blue ribbon committee chair Teofisto Guingona III has sent the DOJ a formal communication that Mr. Arroyo will no longer be summoned in the probe because of his heart condition. Thus, De Lima noted in her order: "Whereas, in a letter dated August 31, 1011, committee chairman Guingona informed the undersigned that the committee, after giving weight to the medical condition of Atty. Arroyo per evaluation of Dr. Manuel Chiaco Jr., Executive Director of the Philippine Heart Center, 'has decided not to summon Mr. Arroyo to its hearings on the helicopter case investigation.'" 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. High court's TRO At a separate news briefing on Thursday, De Lima clarified that the lifting of the watch list order was not prompted by the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of the watch list order. Still, De Lima said the DOJ, through the Office of the Solicitor General, will file a comment with the high court to manifest that she has already withdrawn the watch list order against Mr. Arroyo. "Instead of a full comment, what will be filed by the OSG will just be a manifestation in lieu of this development that the TRO was lifted," she said. De Lima, however, said it is up to the SC to determine if the matter is already moot or if it will still rule on the merits of Mr. Arroyo's petition questioning the validity of the watch list order against him and the DOJ circular that empowers the Justice secretary to issue such orders. The former First Gentleman had asked the SC to void the watch list order and DOJ Department Circular No. 41 because these supposedly violated his constitutional right to travel, to due process, and to equal protection. — RSJ, GMA News