Palace gives DOJ free hand in putting GMA on immigration watchlist

MANILA, Philippines - It’s up to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to decide whether to put Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the immigration watch list after several graft and plunder cases have been filed against the former president, Malacañang said yesterday.

“I think Secretary Leila de Lima has basis to say that,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said referring to the DOJ chief’s statement that she was “seriously considering” Arroyo’s inclusion in the watch list. “But again we will defer to her reasons for assessing why (Arroyo) should be placed under the BI (Bureau of Immigration) watch list.”

De Lima said there might now be a need to place Arroyo in the watch list considering that the former president is now a subject of several investigations, the latest of which is the alleged anomalous use of more than P300 million funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Though Arroyo is now a legislator, De Lima said there is no legal restriction to the former president’s inclusion in the BI watch list.

“There are no restrictions in the issuance of the watch list - at least watch list order - that one I have greater leeway and I have motu propio prerogative,” De Lima said.

Asked if she would wait for any formal request for such action, De Lima said: “Either way, but I can always issue that anytime.”

It was San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito who first proposed the issuance of a hold departure order against Arroyo last Monday. 

The BI, for its part, said a formal instruction from De Lima is needed before it can include Mrs. Arroyo in its watch list.

“There has to be a formal directive from the (DOJ) Secretary for us to implement a watch list order,” said BI Legal Division chief Arvin Santos. The BI is an attached agency of the DOJ. An individual in the watch list is not allowed to travel outside the country without an approval from the DOJ secretary. A hold departure order, on the other hand, is a total overseas travel ban issued usually by the courts. The DOJ may also place persons with pending criminal complaints in the immigration hold departure list.

Meanwhile, Ejercito said Arroyo should go to jail if allegations of poll fraud against her are proven. – With Evelyn Macairan and Non Alquitran