De Lima may allow Gloria Arroyo to seek treatment abroad

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said she may “favorably consider" allowing former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad for humanitarian purposes. “Upon proper application, we might favorably consider since several officials have already expressed approval of her treatment abroad," said De Lima, who placed Arroyo on the Immigration watch list in connection with the string of plunder charges filed against her. De Lima served as Commission on Human Rights chief during the Arroyo administration. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had earlier said that he is inclined to allow Arroyo, who is suffering from a rare disease called hypoparathyroidism, a condition which causes the body to produce low levels of calcium, to seek treatment abroad. Belmonte, at a press briefing at the House of Representatives, said the travel authority to three countries he earlier gave Mrs. Arroyo, had already lapsed. He said he is ready to give her new ones. “I am ready to amend [the travel authorities] any time if necessary," Belmonte said. He added that Arroyo’s spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, has already expressed intention to seek from his office a new permit for Mrs. Arroyo to go abroad with a nurse. “They just want to be sure that if they need to go, they can go," Belmonte said. — KBK, GMA News