Now that she is no longer detained, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo now have the chance to go abroad together.
The couple have filed separate motions to travel before the Sandiganbayan wherein they asked to be permitted to go to Europe and Hong Kong later this year.
In her motion, Mrs. Arroyo, who is now House Deputy Speaker, asked that she be allowed to go to Germany from September 20 to 29 and to France from September 29 to October 2.
“She will consult with medical experts in Germany on her condition and health, while she will take a short vacation in France,” read her motion.
Mrs. Arroyo also sought permission to go to Hong Kong from October 29 to November 4 “to attend a family reunion and to spend some much needed vacation time with her family.”
On the other hand, Mr. Arroyo did not mention any reason for his trip, particularly to Europe on September 10.
The couple did mention in their separate motions that they will be staying in the same hotels in Germany and France as well as in Hong Kong.
Mrs. Arroyo was held under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for four years until the Supreme Court acquitted her of plunder last July in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence fund mess.
The couple still faces charges before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with the botched $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with the China-based ZTE corporation.
Mr. Arroyo is also facing other charges before the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division, this time on the P104-million overpriced sale of used helicopters that were passed off as new to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
