Aquino, not De Lima, has final say on ex-president’s travel request -- Palace

FORMER President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s foreign travel is in the hands of President Benigno Aquino III after all.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda indicated in his phone patch briefing with Palace reporters yesterday that President Benigno Aquino III will still have to approve the decision of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on whether or not Arroyo should be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad.

Lacierda said that De Lima, who was supposed to return from an international conference in Cambodia yesterday, will submit her decision to Aquino within the week.

Lacierda stressed the President will see if De Lima’s recommendation is “acceptable to us or not” and whether it will be adopted “in full.”

“The President made it clear that he has allowed the Department of Justice to review the matter,” he said.

Lacierda also branded as baseless allegations that De Lima is using the Arroyo travel row for her personal political ends.

He said that De Lima, who is rumored to be being drafted for the Liberal Party’s senatorial slate in 2013, is focused on the Arroyo travel issue and would base her decision on evidence sans any political considerations.

Lacierda said it was unfair, too,  to accuse the government of taking its sweet time deciding on Arroyo’s medical treatment abroad.

“(Health Secretary Enrique) Ona has examined the former President and she appears to be recovering and her situation is not life threatening,” the Palace official added.

Arroyo, who is suffering from hypoparathyroidism, is facing electoral fraud and plunder charges.

She plans to seek treatment in Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Singapore.