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Arroyo spokesman: Court cannot issue instant hold order


The lawyer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday downplayed the chances of her planned flight abroad getting preempted by the Commission on Elections' request to a Pasay City court to issue a hold departure order. Mrs. Arroyo's legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, said the court cannot issue an HDO immediately because it has to hold hearings on the matter first. "Hindi makakalabas ng HDO kung walang hearing. Bibigyan ng pagkakataon ang tao magkaroon ng hearing para mailatag ang argumento ng bawa't panig," Lambino said in an interview aired on dzBB radio. Lambino questioned the speed with which the Comelec issued a resolution calling for filing a case against Mrs. Arroyo for poll fraud. The Comelec met early Friday and issued the resolution, then filed a case with the Pasay City regional trial court.

Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes earlier admitted that they filed the case to prevent Mrs. Arroyo from leaving, but quickly added that they did not rush the filing of the case. Brillantes explained that they made the decision after the Justice Department forwarded its recommendation to them last Wednesday. He said they decided to file the case because the former President did not file any counteraffidavit. But Lambino countered, "Talagang hindi normal... mabilis pa sa kidlat ang ginawa (It was definitely not normal. It moved faster than lightning)." The lawyer said the recent moves appeared to be in line with President Benigno Aquino III's earlier pronouncement that charges would be filed against Mrs. Arroyo by November, and she may be jailed by Christmas. He cited the poll fraud case against Mrs. Arroyo where the Comelec and Justice Department believed the claims of former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas. "Kaya sinabi namin isang moro-moro ito. Sila ay atat na atat sampahan ng kaso si Mrs. Arroyo (That is why we've been saying this is a moro-moro. This administration is hell-bent on filing charges against Arroyo)," he said. — RSJ, GMA News
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