Palace won’t seek apology from Arroyo spokesman over chopper claims

Elena Bautista-Horn INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacanang won’t ask for an apology from the spokesperson of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who allegedly claimed that an airlift wasn’t discussed as an option of transferring Arroyo to the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).

“[An apology] is up to her…. It’s to her own detriment if she keeps doing this,” Valte said on radio, referring to Elena Bautista-Horn.

“They should be just consistent and just tell the public the truth,” she added.

Horn on Friday said Arroyo was stressed as she waited for her transfer from the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig to the government hospital.  Horn also said the PNP wanted to airlift Arroyo but that the former President wouldn’t want any of it owing to the inclement weather on Friday.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said Horn was lying when she said that an airlift wasn’t discussed between the government and the Arroyo camp.

Robredo said the Arroyo camp originally agreed to an airlift before the weather had worsened.

“What is emerging is a pattern of untruthfulness. That is up to the public to judge them for that,” Valte said.