Gloria Arroyo camp dares De Lima: Prove asylum claims

The camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday dared Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to show proof to back her claims that the former Philippine leader intends to seek asylum in the Dominican Republic. In a radio interview, Mrs. Arroyo's spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn alleged that De Lima's disclosure of an unverified information to the media smacks of the secretary's plan to seek a senatorial seat in 2013.

"I challenge Secretary De Lima to show proof of her allegations. I know of no plan by Mrs. Arroyo to seek asylum in the Dominican Republic. That is why I am bold enough to issue the challenge to the justice secretary," Bautista-Horn told dzBB radio. "Unverified e bakit ka magpapa-media? Dahil tatakbong senadora sa 2013... Siyempre libreng media mileage yan. Kawawa ang aking boss, ginagamit ng mga gusto tumakbo sa 2013," she added. Bautista-Horn was referring to De Lima's pronouncements Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was "verifying information" that Mrs. Arroyo has sought political asylum in the Dominican Republic. De Lima, who earlier refused to issue an allow departure order for Mrs. Arroyo, said the DOJ could not ignore such information, the basis for doubts on the true motive for the former President’s travel request. However, Bautista-Horn and the camp of Mrs. Arroyo's husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, also denied the allegations. Mr. Arroyo's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, however, said Mrs. Arroyo had been to the Dominican Republic. Persecuting Mrs. Arroyo? In Friday's radio interview, Bautista-Horn said De Lima's media pronouncements may be a quiet admission by the Aquino administration that it is indeed persecuting Mrs. Arroyo, who now represents the second district of Pampanga in the House of Representatives. "Why are they afraid of Mrs. Arroyo seeking political asylum? Is this administration admitting it is indeed persecuting Mrs. Arroyo?" she said. Bautista-Horn also said De Lima's claims smack of a "trial by publicity." She said the government should at least have filed formal charges against Mrs. Arroyo in court, so the former Philippine leader's camp can reply in the "proper forum." In the meantime, Bautista-Horn said the Arroyo camp is heartened by the opinions of other lawyers and constitutional experts who said "suspicion" of Mrs. Arroyo's motives to go abroad do not impair a person's constitutional right to travel. "These are fair and impartial law experts. They are saying a suspicion speculation does not impair a person's constitutional right (to travel)," she said. On Tuesday, the former President challenged before the Supreme Court the Immigration watch list order issued against her by De Lima. On Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III himself offered bringing in foreign specialists whose fees will be shouldered by the government to check on his predecessor — an offer the former President’s camp refused. Mrs. Arroyo’s camp has repeatedly said the former Philippine leader has no plans of fleeing from the charges filed against her, and that her plan to travel abroad is for the purpose of finding doctors to treat her bone mineral disorder and hypoparathyroidism. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News