Palace won't speculate on Ona's feedback on Arroyo condition

Malacañang on Tuesday reserved its comments on government's pending decision on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's request to seek medical treatment abroad. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said it would be "premature" to comment on the issue because Health Secretary Enrique Ona has not yet given feedback on Arroyo's medical condition. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier tapped Ona to evaluate the medical abstract the former President submitted to the Department of Justice as a requirement for her request to be issued with an Allow Departure Order (ADO). Arroyo needs to secure an ADO as she is the subject of two watchlist orders in connection with several charges of plunder and electoral sabotage filed before the DOJ. "Secretary Ona’s opinion will certainly be taken into consideration by Secretary de Lima when the latter decides on the request for the issuance of an ADO," Valte said. Arroyo is under investigation "for giving direct instructions to manipulate the results of the senatorial elections in Maguindanao... to implement a 12-0 result in the Province of Maguindanao in favor of the Team Unity Senatorial candidates, and alter or change the results if necessary." Her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, was also placed on the watchlist after the joint DOJ-Commission on Elections investigation team recommended that he be investigated further in connection to his alleged involvement in electoral fraud and other scandals during the nine-year presidency of his wife. Mrs. Arroyo, who is being treated for her pinched nerve and is suffering from hypoparathyroidism and bone mineral disorder, was allowed by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to seek treatment abroad. Last week, Mr. Arroyo's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, branded the latest watchlist order against the First Gentleman as "cruel and inhumane." Belmonte recently approved an amended request by the former President and incumbent Pampanga congresswoman to go to the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, but the approval already lapsed prompting the Arroyo camp to renew the request. — VS, GMA News