MALACAÑANG wavered in its strong stance against hospital arrest for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but said she should be detained in a government hospital.

“Well, number one, we’ve already time and again said that the decision whether to place the accused, GMA, either in house arrest or hospital arrest is at the discretion of the trial court. But she is sick, she is recovering and, for all intents and purposes, we’d rather that she be placed in a government hospital. But, again, let me state that the discretion lies within the court,” according to presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda also noted that former Arroyo is suffering from diarrhea according to her doctors, which would require her continued confinement in the hospital.

The Palace official however brushed aside speculations that the softer stance of the Palace on the former leader of the land is in reaction to public uproar against the rather cruel treatment on Mrs. Arroyo by the Aquino government.


House arrest

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay urged government officials and politicians to stop issuing comments on the issue of house arrest for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Instead, Magsaysay said, everybody should let the Supreme Court decide on the issue to prevent the public from thinking that officials are influencing the judicial system.

“The matter is already pending in the courts as the petition has already been submitted by the Arroyo camp,” Magsaysay said adding that it would be prudent for the Palace and the Department of Justice to leave the courts to do their job and deliberate on the case on their own.

The woman solon said the Palace’s stand on the issue is not a secret. However, now that the case is already pending before the courts, they should be given a chance to do their job fairly without the administration breathing down their necks and telling them what to do.

“Whether or not the country will reap repercussions over the house arrest issue is a moot point right now. What is important is for the wheels of justice to turn on its own terms and not because the government is telling it what to do. Let us respect due process,” she said.

Earlier, Minority Leader Edcel Lagman defended house arrest for Arroyo saying that it was accepted as alternative detention.   

With Jester P. Manalastas