High Court OKs Arroyo travel: source
MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) - The Supreme Court has voted 8-5 to release a temporary restraining order on the watchlist order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a source told abs-cbnNEWS.com.
Only 13 magistrates voted.
The 8 are: Chief Justice Renato Corona, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, and Jose Perez.
The 5 who did not vote in favor of the decision are: Senior Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Maria Lourdes Sereno, Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Jose Mendoza.
Those who did not vote are: Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Mariano del Castillo.
Another source said Arroyo is required to post a bond. She also has to report to Philippine consulates in the countries she will visit. Her legal counsels also have to coordinate her travels.
Arroyo and her husband, Mike, earlier filed separate petitions asking the Supreme Court to issue a TRO on the Department of Justice watchlist order. The WLO prevents the Arroyos from leaving the country without government permission.
The Arroyo couple also urged the Court to declare as unconstitutional Department of Justice Circular 41 which gives the Justice secretary powers to issue travel restrictions.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier turned down the former President's petition for allow departure order, saying she found no compelling reason to allow Arroyo to leave the country.