Majority of polled INQUIRER.net readers back De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—Most of the respondents of the just concluded INQUIRER.net poll think that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was right in defying the Supreme Court’s order allowing former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek treatment abroad.

To the poll question, “Do you think Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was right in defying the Supreme Court allowing Arroyo to travel for health reasons?” 3,127, or 71.38 percent, of 4,381 respondents answered yes.

A total of 1,254, or 28.62 percent, answered no to the question. The poll was conducted from November 16 to 24.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday last week issued a temporary restraining order, or TRO, that allowed Arroyo to travel abroad for health reasons, but De Lima refused to lift the Department of Justice’s hold-departure order on the former president despite the TRO.