HOLD ORDER AGAINST GMA RESTS ON SHAKY GROUNDS
WITHOUT COURT ORDER

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said the hold-departure order against Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo rests on very shaky grounds.

"To deprive a person of his or her right to travel, you need a court order, and not just an administrative decree," said Angara. "With due respect to the judgment of the Justice Secretary (De Lima), there is no charge yet filed against the Former President."

He continued, "Why are we already proceeding from the assumption that she is going to evade the process of our Philippine courts when in fact, there is no court case? It's like we are shadowboxing. Because of this, I think the speculation that she will escape is not a good enough reason to deny her access to quality medical attention.

"The probability of her evading the legal processes of our country may be remote especially because in this time and era, there is practically no place to hide. The arm of the law is longer now than before and you cannot hide easily," said Angara.

According to Angara, the medical condition of the Former President requires special surgical skill and experience not readily available in the Philippines.

"It's not simply about getting a doctor or a specialist surgeon to fly here and say that's enough substitute," he remarked. "On the humanitarian side, we cannot deny a person access to expert medical attention."