Arroyo camp eyes asserting travel right before SC

With the Justice Department "sitting" on her case for now, former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is mulling asserting her constitutional right to travel before the Supreme Court. Arroyo's spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn last Friday said this is their "next legal option," noting the 1987 Constitution was ratified during the watch of President Benigno Aquino III's late mother Corazon. "Kami ay naging mapasensya, kami nagtiyaga sa lahat na hinihingi ng DOJ (Department of Justice)... Kaya lang napapansin namin kung nakapag-comply kami baka may bago na namang hinihingin," Horn said in an interview on dzXL radio. She said Arroyo already "assured" [the government that] she would return after her trip abroad to seek treatment for her medical condition. Also, Horn said Arroyo has even issued a letter notarized by the DOJ that she would return. "Arroyo's critics should not get too speculative. Even if they have their own suspicions, their suspicions should not prevail over the Constitution," she said. Besides, she said "We have the 1987 ratified under the watch of the incumbent president's late mother Corazon Aquino. They should at least respect the Constitution." Under Section 6, Article III of the Constitution, "the right to travel (shall not) be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law." On Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she sees no "immediate necessity" for Arroyo to seek medical help abroad. She added she wants to make sure that the poll fraud probe involving Arroyo being conducted by the DOJ, in coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), "will not get frustrated or derailed" because of the former President’s absence. In addition, DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima said that based on the assessment of Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Mrs. Arroyo’s own doctors, the former President’s health is already improving. De Lima also said she needs time to fully assess if she will grant an allow departure order (ADO) for Arroyo. She said she might release the final decision on the matter Tuesday next week. Critics' doubts On the other hand, Horn slammed Arroyo's critics for doubting Arroyo is sick, saying Arroyo takes 20 to 25 tablets a day. She also said Arroyo wants to see what is wrong with her thyroid gland. "It [illness] is not yet manifested by being bedridden or having to wear an oxygen mask everywhere, but Arroyo wants to find out now what is wrong with her thyroid," she said. she said. Meanwhile, Horn also defended the number of security personnel to go with Arroyo abroad, saying they will be going in shifts. "Hindi yan sila lahat sasama in one batch. Meron kaming shifting system. At any one time, tatlo lang ang kasama niya," she said. — LBG, GMA News