Arroyo files contempt charges vs De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—The camp of Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday filed contempt charges against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for defying a Supreme Court order to allow the ailing former president to seek treatment abroad.

Justice Secretery Leila de Lima. INQUIRER file photo

Arroyo’s lawyer, Estelito Mendoza, filed the charges as the physically weakened former leader has delayed a trip abroad for treatment, her aides said, prolonging a stand-off that has also pit the government against the judiciary.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled Arroyo was free to seek medical care abroad but De Lima refused to lift the travel ban she issued against the former president.

Hours after the ruling came out, Arroyo’s first attempt to leave was foiled by De Lima.  Arroyo,64, was stopped from flying to Singapore after she was dramatically escorted into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace to support her spine that she says is weakened due to a rare bone disease.

The Aquino administration insisted she must stay in the country to face vote rigging and corruption charges.

Arroyo ruled the country for more than nine years, and was elected to the House of Representatives after her term ended last year.

Her other lawyer Raul Lambino denounced the Aquino government’s decision to continue to enforce the travel ban despite the Supreme Court ruling.

“This is worse than martial law. At least in martial law we know that there is a dictator,” he said.

“But this government is acting far, far worse than a dictator because they are acting in the cover of a Constitution that they are not following.”

The Supreme Court, the country’s highest tribunal, is to hold a special hearing Friday to address the Aquino government’s move to defy its ruling on the Arroyo case, its spokesman Midas Marquez said.

The justices would also discuss the government’s separate plea to recall the court ruling, Marquez said.

The political stand-off forced President Benigno Aquino to delay his trip to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Bali, Indonesia, his spokesman Ricky Carandang told reporters there on Wednesday. With Ricky Brosas