Palace OK with Arroyo medical treatment abroad once requirements met

Malacañang on Tuesday assured former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that she will be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad once she has complied with all the requirements. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of Justice is still waiting for documents from the camp of Mrs. Arroyo. "Assuming that they comply (she will be allowed to go abroad). ‘Yun lang naman po ‘yung hinihingi natin. Ang ayaw lang po natin dito is maakusahan po tayo na nagbibigay po tayo ng special treatment," Valte said. "I just checked with the DOJ. Mayroon ho silang mga ni-request na documentary requirements from the lawyer of Mrs. Arroyo and so far this morning, hindi pa raw po naisu-submit, hindi pa po complete ‘yung documents that are required," she added.

Earlier in the day, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she will be liberal in deciding whether to grant an Allow Departure Order (ADO) to Mrs. Arroyo, who now represents the second district of Pampanga in the House of Representatives. 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. Earlier reports said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to travel abroad for two months to seek special 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. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News