IMMIGRATION officers assigned at the NAIA Terminal 1 heaved a deep sigh of relief upon learning that former President now Pampanga Congressman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had cancelled her trip to Singapore, scheduled at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Sources from the immigration said they have been alerted earlier on during the day about Arroyo’s scheduled flight to Singapore, where the former president had reportedly arranged for an appointment today (Saturday).

The said officers admitted that things are difficult for them, since they are caught in the tug-of-war between the executive and the judiciary.

They said that while they are under orders from the Department of Justice (DOJ) not to allow Arroyo’s departure based on a watchlist order, on the other hand, they are likely to face contempt charges for violating the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court against the said watchlist order.

The immigration is an attached agency of the DOJ and the immigration officers are duty-bound to implement orders emanating from it.

As soon as news that an arrest warrant had been issued against Arroyo, the police and security personnel additionally assigned at the NAIA pulled out.        Itchie G. Cabayan