Cops secure SC, DOJ for pro, anti-Arroyo demos

Police have secured the Department of Justice and Supreme Court compounds in Manila Wednesday amid a brewing legal row on whether former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be allowed to travel abroad to seek medical treatment. Manila Police District spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said sufficient personnel have been deployed to the area, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. The DOJ and SC compounds are adjacent to each other along Padre Faura Street in Manila. Mrs. Arroyo's camp is due to ask the high court early Wednesday to declare the Department of Justice in contempt for defying the temporary restraining order the SC issued against the DOJ watch list order. The WLO had blocked Mrs. Arroyo from going abroad to seek medical help. While the SC issued a TRO that allowed Mrs. Arroyo to leave Tuesday afternoon, immigration agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport blocked the former Philippine leader from leaving. On the other hand, several groups had weighed in on the issue, including pro-Aquino groups supporting the government's thwarting of Mrs. Arroyo's flight Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, running priest Roberto Reyes held a "Mass for enlightenment" in front of the SC premises. He was to lead a march to the adjacent DOJ to show support for Justice Leila de Lima, according to a separate dzBB report. — RSJ, GMA News