Filipino docs don’t want to operate on Arroyo, says minority leader

GOODBYE AND HELLO Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leaves airport after immigration authorities stopped her from boarding a Hong Kong-bound plane. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo has to seek medical treatment abroad because no Filipino doctor was willing to perform surgery on her.

“They (Filipino doctors) are hesitant because they are afraid that this might lead to her death. They know that she has a very rare ailment,” said Suarez in an interview with reporters.

Suarez said Arroyo has already identified medical experts from abroad willing to perform the delicate surgery on her ailment and that the minority bloc would file a resolution appealing to President Benigno Aquino III to allow the currently detained Arroyo to fly out of the country.

Suarez said the minority would use as a precedent the decision of then President Marcos to allow the then detainee, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the President’s father, to seek medical treatment abroad for his heart ailment.

“Why was Ninoy allowed to get treatment in the US when there are heart specialists in the country?” asked Suarez. “I think the President will consider our request because his only condition was if GMA (Arroyo’s initials) would return, to which we have no doubts.”