Palace: No speculation on De Lima decision on Arroyo's travel request

Malacañang on Monday refused to “speculate" how Justice Secretary Leila De Lima will decide on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s request to seek medical treatment abroad. “We don’t want to speculate kung ano ang magiging final decision. Whether it is acceptable to us or not, we will have to wait for the final decision," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a phone interview with reporters. De Lima will meet President Benigno Aquino III when she has decided on the matter and before making it public, said Lacierda. “Because she’s the alter-ego of the President, siguro talagang kailangan niya abisuhan si Pangulong Aquino tungkol sa kanyang decision," noted the Palace official. “I think the President has made it clear na he has allowed the Justice Secretary to review the entire matter and so it would be a decision based on the review of the political, medical, and legal considerations…" he said. “So I think that is something that is well-thought of and something that I think the President and Secretary Leila de Lima will agree on," he added. The Arroyo camp should not portray themselves as underdogs, because the judiciary will decide on cases against them, Aquino’s spokesperson said. “They’re trying to picture themselves as inaapi sila eh alam naman nila na hindi ho kami ang magde-desisyon kung guilty o hindi ang dating Pangulong Arroyo. Judiciary po ang magde-desisyon — alam ng mga abugado po nila ‘yan. So, this is a publicity campaign ng mga Arroyo, ng kampo nila," he said. Lacierda also defended De Lima on criticisms that she is using the issue to gain media mileage for her plan to run in 2013 elections. “Hindi po nagko-commit si Secretary Leila de Lima. May mga nagsabi na po na [gusto] nga siyang kunin bilang senador, but she is focused on her work," he said. Arroyo’s lawyers seemed to be trying to muddle the issue, Lacierda noted. “If you’re going to prepare for a case, you’ll have to prepare all the strengths of the evidence and not out of political considerations. That is stupid. Again, let me point out to the lawyers of the camp of GMA that they are trying to muddle the issue. A case once filed in court will be based on the strength of the evidence," he said. “So if there is a strong evidence against the former President, the secretary of Justice will decide on that basis and not because of this idea that she is being…she wants to run for Senate," he added. — VS, GMA News