MANILA, Philippines — The reported asylum bid of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is baseless.
This is the current assessment of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima admitted
Friday that she does not have substantial proof which would verify reports that the former President plans to seek asylum in the Dominican Republic.
“We need a basis for any action on the issue,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said when asked if the Department has carried out any action on the rumored asylum bid of Mrs. Arroyo and her family.
“So far, we have not received any communication from appropriate authorities,” Hernandez added. “We have not received any communication from DoJ (Department of Justice) regarding the matter.”
Under the notion of political asylum, a person being persecuted in his or own country may find refuge or sanctuary in a foreign land.
Last Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the DoJ is verifying reports that the former President plans to seek asylum in the Dominican Republic to evade government prosecution.
De Lima had told reporters that she had received numerous reports that the former President might seek asylum overseas should she be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad.
Friday, De Lima said she only received a report from a Justice official, through a forwarded text message, that Mrs. Arroyo plans to seek asylum on the same day that she announced her Allow Departure Order (ADO).
But aside from the text message, there had been other formal reports that the former First Couple might seek political asylum in one or two other countries other than the Dominican Republic.
Friday, unverified information swirled, saying the Arroyos have secured or were given passports by the government of the Dominican Republic.
However, Hernandez insisted there is no basis yet on these asylum rumors.
Present evidence
The Arroyo camp denied insinuations she and her family would no longer come back to face criminal charges if she’s allowed to leave to seek medical treatment abroad.
Mrs. Arroyo’s spokeswoman Elena Bautista Horn challenged De Lima to present evidence that the former President indeed intends to seek political asylum abroad to evade the criminal charges against her. Horn accused De Lima of grandstanding to gain popularity in preparation for a purported senatorial bid in 2013.
But De Lima said she always has the option to keep her evidence at this point, although she had admitted having no substantial proof.
“I challenge Secretary De Lima to show proof of her allegations. I know of no plan by Mrs. Arroyo to seek asylum in the Dominican Republic. That is why I am bold enough to issue the challenge to the Justice Secretary,” said Horn. -Manila Bulletin
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