Dato Arroyo denies mom, family seeking asylum abroad

Published November 25, 2011 4:51pm

(Updated 5:58 p.m.) Speaking for the first time on the issue, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato" Arroyo on Friday denied that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or any of her family members are seeking political asylum abroad.

"Allow me to state the obvious, we have no intention of seeking political asylum abroad. Ang aming buong pamilya, ang pamilyang Arroyo, ay walang balak magtago at humingi ng political asylum sa ibang bansa, maski pa po [anu-anong] unverified text messages ang pagbasehan ni Sec. De Lima," the younger Arroyo said during a press briefing at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City.

Dato was referring to the persistent attempts of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to block Mrs. Arroyo from leaving the country, which the former Philippine leader's camp insists is for medical treatment.

"Habang abala po kami sa pagpaschedule ng mga appointment sa mga medikal na espesyalista sa ibang bansa, ang mga propagandista naman ng administrasyon ay mas lalong abala sa pag-imbento ng kung anu-anong anggulo tungkol sa tunay na intensyon ng kanyang pagbiyahe," he said.

The Camarines Sur lawmaker stressed said that his mother is not the kind of person who would run away from anything.

"Ang dating pangulo ay isang matapang na tao, kung ginusto niya, nakaalis na sana siya at hindi na bumalik pa mula nung hindi siya bumaba sa puwesto, bago pa siya nasampahan ng mga katakot-takot na kaso na alam naman po naming siguradong parating," he said.

"Ngunit wala po ito sa kanyang pagkatao, ang kanyang pagkatao ay ang klase na sumasabak at humaharap sa mga bagyo at kalamidad. Kalokohan po ang isipin na tatakasan niya ang kanyang mga paglilitis, ang totoo po ay tinuturing niya itong pagkakataon na magpaliwanag sa husgado at lnisin ang kanyang pangalan," he added.

Dato likewise cited what the former President had done for the country, specifically the country's 38 months of economic growth during her term. He likewise said that his mother allowed former President Joseph Estrada to seek medical treatment abroad when he was the one being prosecuted.

"Sa lahat ng ito, ang aming buong pamilya, mula sa aking ina at ang masakit pa dun hanggang sa mga anak at pamangkin ko na mga bata pa lamang, ay nakaranas ng pangungutya at galit mula sa publiko. Pinili naming manahimik... ngunit ngayon bilang isang anak na nakikitang naghihirap ang kanyang ina, hinihingi ko po sa inyong lahat ipagdasal po natin siya, ipagdasal natin na tratuhin siya ng patas at kasama ang presumption of innocence na nakasaad sa ating saligang batas," he said.

"Isantabi po muna ang pulitika at bigyan natin ng halaga ang mga proseso ng demokratikong institusyon," he added. After reading his prepared statement, Dato did not entertain any questions from the media and immediately went inside the hospital.

Mrs. Arroyo has been staying at St. Luke's since November 15, after Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) barred her from leaving the country to seek medical treatment abroad for her bone problem.

She was arrested last November 18, hours after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed an electoral sabotage case against her at the Pasay RTC.

Mrs. Arroyo’s camp submitted to the court on Wednesday a motion for hospital arrest, along with copies of her medical certificates and other documents providing details on the series of surgeries she underwent months ago to cure a pinched nerve on her spine, scientifically known as multilevel cervical spondylosis.

But earlier in the day, Mrs. Arroyo's lawyers asked that the former Philippine leader be placed under house arrest.

The prosecution, however, made a motion that Mrs. Arroyo be moved to a police detention cell instead. — Kim Tan/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: gloriamacapagalarroyo, datoarroyo