For so many days now and up to this writing, the air waves and the pages of the tri-media all over the Philippines have continuously been bombarded ad nauseam with news, narratives and dissertations pros and cons about the Arroyos' travails emanating from their desire to leave the country purportedly for medical treatment abroad.
On November 15, 2011, all hell broke loose when news came out that the Supreme Court (SC) issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) enjoining the executive department to remove the Arroyos from the Watch List Order and allowing them to travel abroad. The entourage of the Arroyos, led by their high priced lawyers brandishing a copy of the TRO, tried to pass the immigration and board the plane which would fly them to Singapore.
Unfortunately for the Arroyos, the immigration personnel on duty refused to allow them board the plane as per order of the Department of Justice which claimed the copy of the TRO was yet to be transmitted officially to them. Despite vehement protests of the Arroyo camp, their entourage failed to leave the country forcing the return of the ailing former President Arroyo to St. Luke Medical Center at Taguig City.
Much is said of the constitutional rights of the Arroyos to travel abroad and seek medical treatment from the specialists of their preference. Furthermore, many legal personalities are decrying the alleged defiance of the SC TRO by the Aquino administration which they are worrying as a virtual attack on the judiciary as an institution. Yet, these legal beagles seem to be more protective of the Arroyos' welfare rather than exorcising the country of the lingering malevolence of the Arroyos' abuses and misdeeds.
They are willing to give the Arroyos the benefit of doubt and allow their departure for abroad purportedly to seek medical treatment for the former president. But, is the travel plans really intended solely for vital medical treatment when two international conferences are included in the proposed itinerary? What a sorry spectacle it would be if the former president would attend such event wearing a halo vest and sitting on a wheel chair, accompanied by a coterie of medical crew and equipment!
On the midst of such enormous brouhaha geared to gain public sympathy unsuccessfully for the Arroyo camp, this observer can only hope that the nation be spared from such legalese and unnecessary ruckus thereby the more important economic matters and other affairs of the state can be tackled with the desired results by the government and the people.
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