LAWMAKERS and ordinary Filipinos on Thursday criticized President Benigno Aquino 3rd for saying that the government could shoulder the medical expenses of former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga province if she were to fly in foreign medical specialists to treat her.
Senators Vicente Sotto and Francis Escudero said that it would be unjust to use public funds for the former president, who is facing a number of plunder complaints, while Sen. Edgardo Angara said that bringing in medical specialists to treat Mrs. Arroyo was not a good idea.
Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna Party-list agreed that Mrs. Arroyo should not be allowed to seek treatment abroad, but rejected President Aquino’s proposal to use public funds for the former leader’s benefit.
“Why would we, the people in dire straits, pay for the medical treatment of one of the richest persons in the country? Many people die without receiving any help from the government,” Colmenares said.
Angara said that a doctor would need hospital equipment to check the condition of the former president.
“All the equipment and diagnostic equipment are all there, the trained personnel assisting him are all there. It’s not simply getting a doctor or a specialist surgeon to fly here and say that’s enough substitute,” he added.
The public uproar over Mr. Aquino’s offer prompted Malacañang officials to clarify the matter, saying that it was now mulling to set up a private fund for the former leader.
Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino raised the possibility of putting up a private fund for Mrs. Arroyo even before Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued her decision barring the former president from traveling abroad.
If the President’s proposal was to be pursued, Lacierda said that he could not ascertain where the money to fund the medical needs of Mrs. Arroyo would be sourced.
“We will have to defer to (Budget) Secretary Butch Abad as to what fund will be used for that,” he added, saying that the President’s Social Fund would not be appropriate since it was intended for the poor.
Malacañang deputy spokesman Abigail Valte admitted that they got a lot of comments regarding Mr. Aquino’s statement, but she said that it was made as a humanitarian gesture.
“The way we look at it, it’s out of humanitarian considerations at nag-offer lang naman po tayo. Ang sinasabi ho kasi nila mayroon daw political persecution – o talagang pagdidiin kay Ginang Arroyo. Gusto lang po natin ding ipakita na hindi ito personal,” Valte added.
To deflect criticisms, Malacañang said that a private fund could be tapped instead.
“In the future, maybe there is a private group that shares the opinion of the President and will also put up the fund instead of the government. As long as we make sure that the (former) President gets the best medical treatment and gets the doctor of her choice,” Lacierda told a Palace press briefing.
Thanks, but no thanks
The camp of Mrs. Arroyo also on Thursday turned down President Aquino’s offer to shoulder the medical expenses of the former leader and vowed to pursue their petition filed with the Supreme Court.
“Thank you for the offer, but we will pursue our case in the SC. If we accept it, it would be as good as saying that we are okay with curtailing her right to travel,” Elena Bautista Horn, Mrs. Arroyo’s spokesman, said.
Horn was referring to their petition for certiorari and temporary restraining order on the watch list order issued by de Lima.
“We’ll shift it to the legal battle because our enemies become our allies in such a situation,” Horn added.
According to the spokesman, flying in foreign doctors to check on Mrs. Arroyo is not feasible because it is hard to secure an appointment with specialists.
