De Lima faces disbarment case

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima is now facing a disbarment case following her refusal to follow a Supreme Court directive allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

Among the facilities that Mupas inspected included a room at Southern Police District (SPD), the Veterans Memorial Hospital, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City. 

This as the Arroyo camp sought for a house arrest for the beleaguered former chief executive as soon as she came out from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City. 

Another court summons Arroyo

Meanwhile, a Quezon City court has summoned Arroyo to answer the P15 million civil suit filed against her by the Morong 43.

In a resolution, Judge Maria Luisa Padilla of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 226 issued summons to Mrs. Arroyo and several military and police officials.

Padilla, however, denied the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment being asked by the complainants Morong 43.

The writ means the identification of assets and properties of Mrs. Arroyo where the damages can be taken from.

"Plaintiffs in this case failed to convince this Court that defendants are about to depart from Philippines with the intent to defraud their creditors by their mere invocation that the defendants are capable of doing since they have been in power for so long," the judge maintained.

Padilla also argued that the writ of attachment is "harsh, extraordinary and summary in nature."

"It is a rigorous remedy which exposes the debtor to humiliation and annoyance. It should be resorted to only when necessary and as a last remedy," the judge said. -- Dennis Carcamo