MANILA (AFP) - The Philippine Supreme Court said on Tuesday it had overturned a government ban on ex-president Gloria Arroyo travelling abroad that was put in place amid fears she planned to flee a corruption probe.
The decision was the latest blow to a high-profile campaign by President Benigno Aquino to have his predecessor and arch-rival charged with corruption and rigging the 2004 national elections.
Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez told reporters the judges had ruled 8-5 that the ban imposed by the government last week on Ms Arroyo and her husband was unconstitutional because they had not yet been charged with any crime.
'They (Ms Arroyo's lawyers) were able to show... the (travel ban) would probably work (as) an injustice against them,' Mr Marquez said.
