Mobile No. 0918-9120137

18 November 2011

 

 

            There is no more obstacle to the former First Couple’s travel abroad to destinations of their choice in order to avail of foreign medical treatment for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s rare ailment.

 

            The Supreme Court has rejected the government’s motion for reconsideration of the earlier temporary restraining order (TRO) which the High Court issued upholding the Arroyos’ constitutional right to travel and restraining the implementation of DOJ Circular No. 41 and the three watchlist orders issued by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

 

            The precipitate filing by the COMELEC of an electoral sabotage case against the former President, among other officials, cannot automatically bar the travel of the Arroyos because the very jurisdiction and composition of the joint DOJ-COMELEC panel, which investigated the case and recommended the filing of the criminal charge, has been challenged before the Supreme Court which has still to act on the subject prejudicial petition.

 

            Moreover, the Regional Trial Court of Pasay City to which the case was raffled cannot motu proprio issue a hold departure order (HDO) before a hearing is conducted after due notice to the parties concerned.