(Updated 5:47 p.m.) Former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will have to spend Christmas and the New Year in a government hospital after the Pasay City court denied her request to spend the holidays at her Quezon City house.
But the court allowed her relatives to visit her at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on Christmas and New Year, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.
The report said Judge Jesus Mupas allowed select relatives of Arroyo, who is recovering from a bone mineral disorder, to visit her at the VMMC on Dec. 24 to 26; and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.
Arroyo camp OK with decision
Arroyo's camp, who asked the court to allow her to spend the holidays at her house in La Vista, Quezon City, said it will respect the court decision.
“Katulad dati, iginagalang namin ang desisyong lumabas. Ito ay aming susundin,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for Mrs. Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel, said in an interview over GMA News TV’s “On Call.”
He added that their camp is grateful that Judge Mupas at least allowed the former President’s immediate family to visit her on Christmas and New Year. “Nagpapasalamat na rin kami na kami ay napagbigyan sa aming kahilingan.”
On the other hand, the report said the Pasay City court has yet to decide on Arroyo camp's request to let her use gadgets like a laptop computer and a mobile phone.
Topacio said Mrs. Arroyo is still abreast with national news while inside the hospital, and is still wearing a neck brace. “Okay naman siya. She’s taking this philosophically,” he said in the interview.
Hospital arrest
Arroyo was transferred to the VMMC from the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City last Dec. 9.
The former leader had been staying at St. Luke's since Nov. 15, when she was barred from leaving the country. She was placed under arrest Nov. 18 on charges of electoral sabotage in connection with the alleged rigging of the 2007 midterm elections to favor her senatorial candidates.
Malacañang, meanwhile, welcomed the court's decision denying Mrs. Arroyo's request to spend the holidays at her house.
At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte described the court’s decision as fair.
“The decision of the court is far. We've always maintained that there should be no special treatment accorded to CGMA (Arroyo’s initials) and that arrangements should be made with due respect to her condition,” she said. — with Andreo C. Calonzo and Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News
