Aquino offers to bring in doctors for Gloria Arroyo

(Updated 7:34 p.m.) The government, after disallowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad, has offered to bring into the country foreign medical experts to check on the former State leader. At a hastily called press briefing in Malacañang, no less than President Benigno Aquino III himself said his administration is even willing to shoulder the bills for the treatment of Mrs. Arroyo, an incumbent congresswoman representing the second district of Pampanga. The President said he is wishing for the former Philippine leader's speedy recovery. “Bilang pagkilala ng karapatan ni Gng. Arroyo na personal na pumili ng mga espesyalistang doktor na magbibigay lunas sa kanya, maaari tayong magpapunta dito ng mga espesyalista o manggagamot mula sa alinmang panig ng mundo upang magsagawa ng kanyang eksaminasyong medikal," Aquino said. “Kung kinakailangan handa nating sagutin ang mga tungkuling pinansyal sa pagpapagamot ni Gng. Arroyo," he added. The briefing was held a day after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced that the government cannot allow Mrs. Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad due to, among others, the “discrepancies" between the medical abstract the Arroyo camp submitted to the Department of Justice to justify her request for an Allow Departure Order (ADO) and the letter-affidavit they earlier submitted. Mrs. Arroyo, who is on the Immigration watch list in connection with the charges filed against her, needs to secure an ADO before she can leave the country. She is being treated for a pinched nerve and is suffering from hypoparathyroidism and a bone mineral disorder. De Lima said there was no need for Mrs. Arroyo to leave the country because she was recuperating well and has already been attended to by doctors here in the Philippines. She cited a report by Health Secretary Enrique Ona who paid Arroyo a recent visit at her home. The camp of Mrs. Arroyo has since brought the matter before the Supreme Court. Supportive of De Lima's decision Aquino, during Wednesday's briefing, said he fully supports De Lima's decision to deny Mrs. Arroyo's request. He said this is to ensure that Mrs. Arroyo will be available to face the plunder and electoral sabotage charges filed against her. “Gagawin natin ito upang matiyak ang pagharap ng sinumang akusado sa ating hukuman at manaig ang katarungan sa ating bansa," he said. He added that it is not unreasonable to doubt the motive of someone who cannot make up her mind on what countries she wanted to go to. Earlier in the day, the camp of Mrs. Arroyo maintained that the former president has no plans of fleeing from the charges against her, and that the "escape scenario" is just a "figment" of De Lima’s imagination. The President said when Mrs. Arroyo asked for a travel authority before the House of Representatives, she mentioned six countries she wanted to visit. But only three countries were indicated in an affidavit she submitted to the DOJ. He added last week, Mrs. Arroyo changed one of the countries on her list. "Sa makailang beses niyang pagsusumite ng mga di-nagtutugmang listahan ng mga bansa, nito lamang Nobyembre 2 niya naisipang banggitin ang doktor na titingin sa kaniya," Aquino said. "Hindi po ba kung magpapaalam ka para magpagamot ng iyong karamdaman, mula’ t sapul pa lamang ay alam mo na kung kanino ka kokonsulta at kung nasaang bansa siya, lalo pa kung alam mong may nakabinbing kaso laban sa iyo?" he asked. No full trust Asked if he has trust in the former President, Aquino said he cannot give his full trust to someone who cannot truthfully declare where she is going. "Hindi ko ho pine-personal ito. (Pero) paano natin dapat paniwalaan nang buong-buo ‘yong sinasabi niyang aalis ako, magpapagamot, babalik ako kung ‘yon nga ho pabago-bago pa iyong mga bansang binabanggit niya?" he said. The President also found it funny that Mrs. Arroyo questioned before the court Memorandum Circular 41 which was issued and implemented during her term. Asked if he is willing to talk to his predecessor, Aquino answered in the affirmative. "Bakit hindi? Guro ko naman siya noong araw; nakakatanda sa akin; babae pa ho siya; siya ay may karamdaman, bakit naman ho natin iiwasan ‘yon?" he said. — KBK/RSJ/HS, GMA News