FORMER President and  now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo cannot leave the country in the wake of the arrest warrant issued against her by the Pasay Regional Trial Court for electoral sabotage, a non-bailable offense.

Thus said Justice chief Leila de Lima in a hastily called press conference in Malacañang.

Stressing that the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court  on Arroyo’s foreign travel woes is already moot and academic, De Lima said that Arroyo is compelled to stay in the country to face the judicial process, even as she assured her fairness and impartiality and will accord her  every right.

“We will not object to hospital arrest. The condition of where she will be confined does not lie with us or the (Commission on Elections) but with the court. Whether it’s hospital arrest or house arrest, it is up to the court. We will not object for as long as she does not leave. If she is in the hospital, she can stay there,” De Lima  told reporters in Malacañang.

De Lima said the issuance of the arrest warrant was a triumph of justice, noting that the Arroyo couple had tried to leave the country despite a watchlist order issued by the DOJ.

She added that the issuance of the arrest order was not unusual based on the judge’s own review of the merits of the case.

She said that the legal proceedings against Mrs. Arroyo is in the interest of the integrity of our electoral system and our democratic space, adding it is all for the Aquino administration’s campaign for  truth and accountability.

De Lima added that the arrest warrant will be served by the authorities, assuring Mrs. Arroyo’s camp that she will be afforded her due  “respect and utmost courtesy,” accorded to a former leader of the land.

She said that the warrant is “a triumph of justice and accountability,” stressing that the Arroyo camp has already been informed about the issuance of the arrest warrant  against the former leader.

De Lima bared that it was Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo who informed Rep. Dato Arroyo about the issuance of arrest warrant  against her mother.

De Lima said that Arroyo will be arrested in case she leaves the hospital and go somewhere or fly out of the country, adding she will be locked up in an appropriate detention facility.         Efren Montano

The DOJ chief said there is nothing unusual in the haste that the arrest warrants was issued by the court ,several hours after the Commission on Elections filed electoral sabotage suit against Mrs. Arroyo and other respondents.

She said that the case against Mrs. Arroyo is a solid case and passed to due procedures, pointing out there is nothing personal with the case.

“I am just doing my job,” said  De Lima ,a former appointee of Mrs. Arroyo at the helm of the Commission on Human Rights.