WHETHER legal or illegal, allies and critics of the Aquino administration yesterday agreed that placing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under hospital arrest was the rightful and best humanitarian gesture to accord a former head of state.

In separate interviews, Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (AGHAM) party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong backed the stay of Mrs. Arroyo, now a Pampanga lawmaker, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City where she is being treated.          

“It’s humanitarian. Whether it’s sanctioned or not by the court, that’s the kindest gesture the government extended to Congresswoman GMA in the past few weeks,” said Palmones.

Belmonte said “it is only proper for her (Mrs. Arroyo) to stay in hospital because of her medical condition. Her stay there is legal.”

Abaya said “I think it is an accommodation rightful for a former President, most especially given her health conditions.”

“I’m not quite sure of the exact letter of the law but just looking at precedence, we have seen former President Estrada being confined to house arrest in Tanay. Therefore for humanitarian and compassionate reasons, Congresswoman GMA should be allowed the privilege of a hospital arrest. We should however always bear in mind to make the distinction between a right and a privilege,” said Abaya.