De Lima vows to be ‘liberal’ in deciding on Arroyo departure request

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday assured former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that she will be "liberal" in deciding whether to grant her an Allow Departure Order (ADO) for her scheduled medical treatment abroad. However, De Lima said just like everybody else requesting an ADO, Mrs. Arroyo, who is on the Immigration watch list, will have to meet all the requirements set under Department Circular No. 41 about securing an ADO which, incidentally, was approved under the Arroyo administration. "As much as possible we will be liberal because it's just a WLO, not an HDO [hold departure order], pero hindi naman puwede na i-dispense na lahat ng magiging requirements," De Lima told reporters at the Department of Justice. Earlier reports said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to travel abroad for two months to seek specialist care for her hypoparathyroidism and bone mineral disorder. House Deputy Secretary General Artemio Adasa has reportedly endorsed to the Department of Foreign Affairs an amended travel authority for Mrs. Arroyo covering the period from Oct. 22 to Dec. 5, 2011. However, a subject of a watch list order must first seek the government's clearance before leaving the country in the form of an ADO. Mrs. Arroyo was placed on the Immigration watch list in connection with the string of plunder charges filed against her. Her camp has repeatedly denied the accusations. De Lima, who was Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson during the Arroyo administration, said her department was not being strict on Mrs. Arroyo as they were merely following provisions under the Department Circular. "Iyong ibang humihingi ng ADO ay pinapa-comply namin. I see no reason why anybody else should be deemed exempted. Kami naman ang iki-criticize ng tao if we will relax or dispense with the requirement. Baka sabihin special treatment at double standard. Binabalanse lang namin ito," she said. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News