KEEP Gloria at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Thus said Malacañang as it is thumbs up on the recommendation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to let former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stay at the VMMC.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace is leaving to the DILG and PNP the matter of securing detained Mrs. Arroyo.

“Hinahayaan ng Pangulong Benigno Aquino III, when it comes to matters of securing the former president, ang DILG at PNP,” Valte told Palace reporters in a briefing with Malacañang reporters yesterday.

Valte said the  Palace is aware the PNP’s decisions are based on caution, pointing out that the police authorities do not want to be blamed afterwards in case something untoward happens.

Arroyo, who is facing non-bailable charge of electoral sabotage, is under hospital arrest at the VMMC in Quezon City, where she has been staying since Dec. 9 last year. She was brought there from the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

The Pasay court issued a warrant for her arrest based on the charge.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) moved to have Arroyo transferred to a regular detention facility after noting her health has improved.   Efren Montano