Mike A's diplomatic passport valid - BI

MANILA, Philippines - There is no irregularity in the use of former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo of a diplomatic passport because he is the husband of an incumbent legislator, the Bureau of Immigration yesterday.

Arroyo left for Munich Germany last Sunday night supposedly to seek stem cell treatment for himself and his wife, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Immigration spokesperson Tonette Bucasas-Mangrobang said Arroyo presented two kinds of passports-a regular passport and a diplomatic passport-both of which are valid.

“It appears that as reported by our (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) office, they checked on the validity and there was no irregularity,” said Mangrobang.                     

She said Arroyo’s passports were thoroughly checked this time to avoid committing the same mistake that occurred last July when the Immigration department could not produce a record of Arroyo’s departure for Hong Kong because a personnel assigned at the airport misspelled his surname to “Aroyo.”

This led to speculations that he used a chartered flight.

“Because of a previous incident, we wanted to make sure that everything is in order for high profile travelers,” she said.