by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
One of the most controversial issues in the country as of this writing (Thursday, Nov, 17 is whether or not to allow former President and now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria M. Arroyo (GMA) to seek medical treatment abroad. For ordinary Filipinos like us, travel abroad for any reason would not be an issue at all for as long as we have a passport and a visa. But GMA is not an ordinary Filipino. She is a former President and, moreover, she is undergoing preliminary investigation for electoral sabotage for which she has yet to submit a counter-affidavit to the complaint.
The government fears that if allowed to leave the country, GMA won’t come back to face the case filed against her. That would mean justice won’t be served. There are enough reasons to entertain the thought that GMA, known for her lies and evil schemes in the past, would actually do so.
Yet, I personally and strongly believe that GMA should be allowed to travel abroad only for medical treatment.
I am not a lawyer but I know that the Bill of Rights in our Constitution guarantees the right of every Filipino citizen to travel and to change abode except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health. As early as July this year, lawyers of the Arroyos have been invoking this constitutional provision or guarantee to question the inclusion of the Arroyos in the watch list order issued earlier by the Department of Justice for their alleged involvement in electoral fraud.
I also do not buy the idea that she could be treated in the country as earlier opined and insinuated by doctors from the Philippine Medical Association. Even the recent suggestion for GMA to name her foreign doctors so that they could be brought to the Philippines all expenses paid by the government is somewhat unacceptable. Any individual facing some signs of his mortality should be given the chance to choose his doctors and hospitals as well as the way he should be treated. It’s a personal choice and it should be respected. When I had a minor surgery recently, I was asked to sign a waiver. And I willingly signed because I had full trust on my doctor whom I’ve personally chosen to perform the operation. Nobody imposed on me so that should anything happen to me it would only be me to be blamed.
There had been several cases where former Presidents and political prisoners were allowed to travel abroad for medical reasons or for any other reasons. The first that I could think of is, of course, the late Senator Ninoy Aquino. He was then facing charges of insurrection, rebellion and subversion but was allowed by his own political arch rival – the former President Marcos – to seek medical treatment in the US.
Then, we talk about serving justice to the few victims of the alleged election frauds. How long will it take the court to decide this “case” against GMA? Will it be sooner or later? Note that no case has ever been filed yet. Will justice be really served soon so that we can hold the ailing Arroyos for the meantime as they face trial before they are allowed to travel abroad for medical reasons? It is the exigency of time which is an issue to me. As a case in point, look at the Mindanao massacre in 2009 and how the wheels of justice turn exceedingly slow.
The issue on the travel abroad of GMA is not purely medical and legal. It’s a complicated mix of various concerns which all have their roots on political ground. But the main reason, as I’ve mentioned above, is the fear that she won’t be able to keep her promise to come back and be accountable for the crimes she allegedly committed. Even with the limited powers she now holds, she could definitely extend indefinitely her stay abroad in the guise of continuing medical treatment and attention. Yet, this issue of bringing her back home “after the treatment” should altogether be treated separately.
This general feeling of paranoia among government officials has its own roots. In the past, there were instances where GMA did not honor even her own words; she would change her mind depending on what is best for her, her family and her allies. During her time as President, policies were said to be unilaterally changed or twisted to secure her own position or to gain advantage over her close political opponents and critics. Not only that, she had literally handcuffed or put in prison without the necessary legal proceedings those who dared to challenge her. Remember General Ariel Querubin and the marines? Antonio Trillanes? General Danilo Lim? The rest of the Magdalo soldiers involved in the Oakwood mutinee? Sen. Panfilo Lacson?
She was then very powerful. As many would say – “she’s a total bitch”! Now, her powers – at least the physical ones – have limited her capacities to make better things happen even for her own benefit. Obviously, she’s now at the mercy of those who hold power. “KARMA, she deserves it,” most of us might say.
But, who are we to judge her motives now – her sincerity? She made her request and the government finally gave her the go signal. Whether or not she’ll keep her words this time to return and face each one of us after her treatment, let it be the burden of her own conscience not ours.
We have laws, that’s fine. We claim that we can serve justice; that’s also great. When the government allowed her to go abroad for her much needed medical treatment abroad, we’ve proven that Filipinos also have a heart.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
