Ex Philippines president seeking political asylum in Dominican Republic, reports(Update)

Santo Domingo.- Ex Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking political asylum in the Dominican Republic, local media report, as the nation’s Department of Justice tries to verify the development.

GMA news reports that Philippines Justice Department chief Leila de Lima was quoted Thursday as saying she will seek information on whether the Caribbean country, which has no extradition treaty with the Philippines, “has already given the former President a passport.”

“I would not know where that information is coming from, na parang bibigyan ng asylum status. That is yet for verification. Definitely, we are verifying all these information."

The news source said however, that Arroyo spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn denied such move by the former President, added that they their never identified the foreign country as one of Arroyo’s potential destinations, “in their plea to travel abroad to seek medical help.”

According to Philippines news source philstar.com, the former chief executive faces, “several plunder cases, “and alleged massive cheating during the 2007 elections.”

News source sunstar.com also cites a Wednesday newspaper report that Hans Dannenberg, Dominican Republic ambassador for several countries of Asia, personally delivered asylum papers to the former President on October 25.

UNCLEAR VISIT

On May 4, president Leonel Fernandez bestowed the country’s highest honor on Philippines ex president, but the reasons behind her visit were never disclosed.