A STAUNCH ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains hopeful that the Aquino administration will allow the former Chief Executive to go abroad and undergo bone biopsy, a procedure that is not available in the country.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez expressed confidence that Health Secretary Enrique Ona’s assessment of the medical condition of Mrs. Arroyo, now a Pampanga lawmaker, will concur with the findings of the latter’s doctors contrary to reports that Ona had found no “emergency” in the former president’s state of health.

Suarez made the statement after he visited Mrs. Arroyo last Tuesday during which the former President confided to him the recommendation of her doctors at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to undergo a bone biopsy.

But Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares expressed serious doubts on the satement of Suarez, stressing the public cannot trust the word of Mrs. Arroyo.

“Definitely, Gloria’s word does not suffice to assuage our fears of her not returning to the country to face the charges against her considering that she has the habit of reneging on her word like when she said that she will not run in 2004,” said Colmenares.               RPP