Arroyo subjected to ‘stress tests’ in hospital, Palace
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:37:00 08/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underwent a “stress test” in a hospital Monday before going to Malacañang where she was to be briefed by security officials on the status of the fighting that has been raging in Mindanao since last week.
Arroyo went to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City in the morning, after being checked-up by her personal physician in Malacañang last Friday.
Arroyo had cancelled her engagements for Wednesday and Thursday last week because of an upset stomach, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.
And as if the President’s stress test in the hospital was not enough, Arroyo was subjected to more “stress tests” brought about by the preparations for delivering her statement for the day on the Mindanao conflict.
But before this, the President was scheduled to witness the installation of the bronze statue of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA 3) on the occasion of the martyr’s 25th death anniversary. She arrived an hour late.
From NAIA 3, the President motored to Malacañang where the Palace media and staff of Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM) were told Arroyo’s on air statement at around 2 p.m.
Arroyo was in a hurry to deliver her speech, according to Palace sources who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.
She was first brought to the Executive Guest House, but on seeing that nothing was set up there, she left and returned to the Palace.
Then she went to the New Executive Building briefing room and was exasperated to find out that RTVM has yet to finish setting up for the airing.
Arroyo sat behind the front table at the briefing room ready to read her message, but walked out because the teleprompter from where she would read her statement was not set.
On one occasion, the President went to the technician's booth to check the preparations before leaving the room sweating because of the heat.
She finally delivered her message but not before her image consultant, Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara, told the media that there would be no press conference.
Kashiwahara said there was a "miscommunication" along the way as the President was supposed to tape her statement at the Rizal Hall inside the Palace, but was changed to the NEB briefing room because it was easier to do set up there.
Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia said the problem could be traced to the delay in technical preparations. He said his office didn't get word that the President wanted to use the briefing room and at an earlier schedule. Arroyo finally delivered her statement at around 1:05 p.m.
Arroyo wanted to deliver her message right away because of the urgency of the situation in Mindanao and because both Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Military Chief Alexander Yano have been issuing statements on the conflict, sources have said.
Arroyo's agitation could have also been caused by the threat of an MILF attack on the President’s ancestral home in Iligan, one of the areas under attack by the secessionist rebels, another source said.
In her statement, Arroyo condemned the "sneaky and treacherous attack" by the MILF on Lanao del Norte. She ordered the police and the military to "defend every inch of Philippine territory against the MILF."
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