SC stops watchlist order vs Mike A.

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) today stopped the Department of Justice (DOJ) from implementing the watchlist order (WLO) issued against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo in relation to the Senate's investigation into the Philippine National Police's purchase of helicopters in 2009.

Voting unanimously in a full-court session, justices granted Arroyo's petition that questioned the constitutionality of the WLO.

They agreed that the order issued by DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima could be in violation of DOJ's own rules, which require a pending criminal complaint against the subject before a WLO can be issued.

De Lima had explained that she issued the WLO upon the request of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is investigating the police’s purchase of helicopters in 2009.

Arroyo had been accused by Lionair president Archibald Po of owning two of the three helicopters. Po had said that the former first gentleman forced the sale of the two helicopters, which were sold to the PNP as brand new by the Manila Aerospace Products Trading.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, committee chairman, said that they will no longer require Arroyo’s presence in the hearings due to his health condition.

Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Jr., executive director of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), told the Senate committee yesterday that Arroyo’s life may be put at risk if he is put under questioning by the senators during the hearing.

Chiaco said Arroyo has a "persisting dissecting aneurism of the descending thoracic aorta."

"This is a medical condition [where the aorta] will continue to expand and always carries the risk of rupture. The only way to minimize the risk of rupture is to keep his blood pressure down," the doctor said.

He added: "It is my opinion that putting him in a situation where we cannot assure that there will be no hypertensive episodes, we'll be putting his life at risk."