Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is seen on brace support which she wears on her torso and back in this undated handout photo. The photo was included in the petition that the Arroyo camp filed before the Supreme Court on November 8, which sought a nullification of the hold departure orders against her. Arroyo, who is facing several cases of plunder and electoral sabotage, was denied to seek medical treatment abroad and instead offered by President Benigno Aquino III to fly in medical specialists to look into her condition, local media reported. ( Photo by REUTERS )

Secretary Ona concurred Arroyo’s need to seek treatment abroad. De Lima claimed in Ona’s report that Arroyo is fine and recuperating. Who is telling the truth?

By GMA News and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s camp on Tuesday claimed Health Secretary Enrique Ona gave the thumbs up for her to get medical treatment abroad, contrary to what has been floated by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the media.

In a petition for certiorari and prohibition, Arroyo’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza claimed that Ona “did not dispute” the former President’s insistence that she must be treated abroad for her hypoparathyroidism and bone mineral disorder.

“DOH Secretary Ona opined that petitioner [Mrs. Arroyo] deserves to get proper and suitable medical treatment abroad by specialist of her choice,” according to the petition.

Arroyo’s camp said Ona and former Health Secretary Francisco Duque paid the former President a visit in her house on Oct. 28.

The visit was prompted by De Lima’s earlier request for Ona to personally check on Arroyo’s condition and see if government should issue an Allow Departure Order for her to leave the country.

Mrs. Arroyo’s physicians were also present during the meeting to explain for the benefit of Ona and Duque the former President’s medical condition and the surgeries she underwent.

“Based on DOH Secretary Ona’s statements, petitioner GMA was comforted that he would favorably recommend her immediate departure for medical treatment abroad,” the Arroyo camp said.

That was why the Arroyo supporters were disappointment when De Lima revealed Tuesday afternoon that Mrs. Arroyo cannot travel overseas because there was “no exceptional reason” for her to get medical treatment abroad.

Contrary to the claim of the Arroyo Camp, De Lima maintained in her 11-page order the Health chief did not think Mrs. Arroyo needed to go abroad.

“According to the report of Secretary Ona on said visit, ‘Mrs. Arroyo is recuperating reasonably well after having undergone a series of three major operations,’” De Lima noted.

Despite being unhappy with the Justice Department’s decision, Arroyo spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said she remains confident the Supreme Court, will rule in Mrs. Arroyo’s favor.