De lima asks for DOH's assistance on Arroyo's condition

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that she is asking assistance from Health Secretary Enrique Ona in assessing on the medical report of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prior on granting overseas medical treatment of Arroyo.

De Lima said, "I'm exercising due diligence and extra caution. Before deciding, I have to get all the facts and consider and weigh all factors so I won't commit a mistake."

Ona has to act in response first before she give the final decision after the long weekend on November 2.

Previously, Arroyo gave a medical abstract on her situation from St. Luke's Medical Center.
The Justice Secretary said, "This is the type of decision where I will surely receive flak from sectors whichever way I decide."

She said that she has to be balance among justice and humanitarian deliberation, she said, "I don't think they can accuse this government of being oppressive. Everything we do is within the bounds of law. We are doing our job in DOJ as instrument of justice in putting closure to the unresolved issues in the past administration."

On the other hand, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, "But for the moment, and this is a legal presumption that all lawyers are fully aware of, issuances unless overturned by the Supreme Court enjoy the presumption of constitutionality. So, what Secretary Leila De Lima is doing – and she has already expressed this view – is that this is an existing regulation and that this is within her powers to do so. So, unless it is overturned by the Supreme Court, she will exercise the regulations that are within her ambit."