GMA lawyers want her moved from hospital to home after doctor says she’s better

LAWYERS of former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday asked the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC), where she is facing electoral sabotage raps, to allow her to be placed under house arrest after she was deemed fit to leave the hospital where she is staying.

Jose Flaminiano, counsel for Mrs. Arroyo, asked Pasay City RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas to remove the former leader from hospital detention and place her under house arrest.

The motion came after one of Arroyo’s attending physicians, orthopedic surgeon Mario Ver, told the court that Mrs. Arroyo could leave St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City anytime.

The doctor said Arroyo’s condition continues to improve after undergoing three surgeries to correct a pinched nerve on her spine last August.

A medical report submitted Thursday by the Philippine National Police to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, signed by Senior Superintendent Herminigilda Salangad of the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Health Service, said the "overall assessment of Arroyo’s medical status has significantly improved."

Since November 15, the 64-year-old Arroyo has been staying at St. Luke’s after she and her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, were prevented by immigration authorities from leaving the country ostensibly to seek medical treatment abroad.

Flaminiano said they are withdrawing their earlier motion for continued hospital arrest of Mrs. Arroyo and instead asked the court for house arrest.

However, lawyers for the Commission on Elections led by Maria Juana Vaneza asked the court to have the former chief executive transferred to a government hospital like the National Orthopedic Center.

Due to the spirited argument,  Mupas decided to declare a 10-minute recess to decide whether to grant the motion of the defense.

Two other physicians, Juliet Gopez-Cervantez and Roberto Mirasol, were not able to take the witness stand after Arroyo’s lawyer said the testimony of Dr. Ver is enough.

The court earlier summoned Ver, Gopez-Cervantez and endocrinologist Roberto Mirasol to shed light on Arroyo’s health condition and help the court decide whether or not to allow her to remain under hospital arrest until she has fully recovered.

Lawyer Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s spokesperson, said they will respect whatever is the court’s decision even as he pointed out that the government earlier posed no objection to either hospital or house arrest.

“We will respect the decision of the court and we are requesting a reasonable number of days for her to get her things at the hospital,” he said.

Next week, Lambino will file a motion for house arrest that would formalize their request..

Until the resolution of the motions of both parties are resolved,  Pasay RTC Branch 112 Clerk of court Joel Pelicano said the former president will remain at St. Luke’s.

On the other hand, Pelicano said they will inspect on Monday the detention room prepared by the Southern Police District (SPD) at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to see if it is suitable.

The room, though air-conditioned is a far cry from Malacañang Palace where Arroyo resided during her 9-year presidency or even the family residence at the posh La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.

The room measures only 3 by 6 meters and aside from a bed and pillow has no other furniture or amenities except for a kitchen sink with running water and a toilet.