AN airconditioned room inside a police camp is being readied by authorities to serve as detention cell of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The move anticipates an order from the Pasay City Regional Trial Court transferring her from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

The room located at the headquarters of the Southern Police District (SPD) in Fort Bonifacio is a far cry from the accommodations of Malacanang where Arroyo resided during her nine-year presidency or even from the family residence at the posh La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.

The SPD took custody of the former president after Pasay City RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas issued an arrest warrant against her and two others last Friday. However, Mrs. Arroyo was allowed to stay at the hospital she has been confined since her aborted attempt to fly out of the country last week.

The room at the SPDI headquarters measures only 3 by 6 meters. Aside from a folding bed and pillow it has no other furniture or amenities though it has a kitchen sink with running water from a faucet.

The SPD said they will replace the old air-conditioning unit with a new one.

But SPD Officer-In-Charge and Deputy Director for Administration Senior Supt. James Bucayu said it is up to the court to decide whether Arroyo would remain at her hospital suite or be transferred to the detention facility.

The 64-year-old former chief executive has been staying at St. Lukes since Tuesday night after she and her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, were prevented by immigration authorities from leaving the country ostensibly to seek medical treatment abroad.

The SPD has deployed policemen outside her hospital suite and the hospital’s premises to ensure her safety.

On Sunday, some two dozen members of militant groups staged a lightning rally near the hospital calling for the prosecution of Arroyo before they were peacefully dispersed by the police.

Mupas issued the warrant against Arroyo, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol for electoral sabotage in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2007 mid-term polls.

Electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense, especially when the evidence is strong.

On Saturday, Arroyo was booked by the police. Booking process involved taking mug shots and fingerprints but Arroyo’s legal team appealed to the police, the media and the court not to release the mug shot to the public so as not to humiliate her.

‘‘Let’s treat the former president with the dignity due her as a former head of state. Let’s not further humiliate her,” said Ferdinand Topacio,one of the lawyers of Arroyo’s husband.

Atty. Raul Lambino, also a lawyer for the Arroyos and spokesperson, said they will question today (Monday) the issuance of the warrant by the Pasay RTC saying it has no jurisdiction on the case.

Lambino said the Commission on Election erred when it filed the case before the lower court when the proper forum is the Sandiganbayan since she is a public official.

But the poll body said Republic Act 9369 which amended Article 286 of the Omnibus Election Code gives exclusive jurisdiction over cases of electoral sabotage to regional trial courts.  Moreover, it added that the law does not grant to the anti-graft court jurisdiction over election-related offenses.

The lower court is also expected to hear a separate petition for the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against Arroyo which could prevent her from leaving the country while the case is being tried.