Doctor seeks extension of CGMA's stay at VMMC
February 4, 2012 12:41 pm
MANILA, Feb. 3 — The doctor of the former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday recommended her extended stay at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
Dr. Antonio Sison, Arroyo’s doctor at VMMC, made the recommendation to Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas handling the electoral sabotage case against the former President.
On Friday’s hearing on the motion filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking Arroyo’s transfer to a regular detention cell, Sison said that while Arroyo's condition had improved, she still has osteoarthritis and must undergo physical therapy.
The 64-year-old Mrs. Arroyo is currently detained at the VMMC’s presidential suite since December 9, 2011 where she is receiving treatment for her hypoparathyroidism.
Last month, VMMC Director Nona Legaspi said Arroyo’s condition is stable and there is no need to subject her to another operation.
Meanwhile, Judge Mupas asked for more details on a motion to allow Arroyo to leave the VMMC to visit the wake of her brother-in-law, the late Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo.
The 61-year old lawmaker died last week in London due to liver cancer. His remains have yet to be repatriated to the Philippines though the country’s embassy in London said it may take place this weekend.
Arroyo is set to be arraigned on February 20, along with her co-accused, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol.
Ampatuan, who is also accused of masterminding the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, is detained at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig while Bedol is currently serving his six-month jail term at the Philippine National Police Detention Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City after he was cited for contempt for his refusal to attend the hearing conducted by the poll body on alleged irregularities in the 2007 mid-term elections.
The order for their arraignment came after Mupas junked Arroyo’s motion questioning the issuance of a warrant for her arrest late last year. (PNA)
DCT/CLTC
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