Arroyos to be prevented from leaving RP, according to Malacanang

The Arroyos

Whose voice will dominate? The Voice of the Supreme Court which, on a vote of 8-5, allowed former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo the right to travel abroad? Or, the Voice of the President's alter-ego, the Justice secretary Leila de Lima, who directed the Bureau of Immigration not to allow the couple to leave the country's shores.

This issue has turned into a very serious Constitutional issue. For one, whose side is right? The side of De Lima who said that the watch list order stays because the State will still present an appeal to the decision of the Highest Tribunal? Or that of Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of the Arroyos, who said that the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court enjoins the Justice department to enforce the watch list order it issued immediately since every decision of the SC is "immediately executory".

There is no dispute---the Bureau of Immigration should follow the order of Justice secretary De Lima because it is an agency under the Executive department. The determination whether De Lima's order is illegal or has gone beyond the powers vested in her rests on the courts.

Now, it would be a shame, a dreadful shame if our immigration authorities allow the Arroyos to leave this country. For one, it would expose the Bureau of Immigration's weak enforcement capabilities and second, would put the country as a weak state.

There are still four (4) flights to Singapore available for the Arroyos and these are the following:

SIN Singapore	PR 505		Philippine Airlines	7:35 PM	7:35 PM ~		Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	5J 803		CEBU Pacific Air	8:30 PM		T-3	Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	3K 766		Jetstar Asia	8:35 PM		T-1	Scheduled	320
SIN Singapore	TR 2727		Tiger Airways	9:30 PM		T-1	Scheduled	320

Now, the Arroyos may elect to fly out of the country using a private commercial airplane. Or immediately use the Clark airport as their exit point.

Whatever they elect to choose, the order of the DOJ is specific: government authorities are enjoined to still prevent the Arroyos from leaving this country inspite of the TRO issued by the Highest Court of the Land.

Unfortunate that this is happening during the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton has just arrived. She is expected to meet the President tomorrow in time for the commemoration of the Mutual Defense treaty between the US and the Philippines.

Why is it that the Arroyos are so eager to leave the country? Mike Arroyo, the former First Gentleman immediately announced that they decided to leave the country within twenty four hours. What is so important for them to go to Singapore and to Germany and Spain, countries whose heads of state are friendly to the Arroyos (remember that Arroyo was given the Cervantes honor when she visited the Country).

This will lead to very serious political issue if the Arroyos insist on leaving the country. If the state prevents them from leaving, they can then use this to justify political persecution. If they do indeed leave, this will be a very serious challenge on the part of the state's ability to enforce the law and justice.