Prosecution pushes for Arroyo transfer to gov’t hospital

MANILA, Philippines — Despite a doctor’s recommendation that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remain at the St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig City, government prosecutors pushed Thursday for her transfer to a government hospital within the day.

During Thursday’s hearing at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 112, Arroyo’s attending physician, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, said that the former President has to stay at the St. Luke’s hospital for a continuing medical assessment of her condition and for the administration of antibiotics.

She testified that a colonoscopy — a probe equipped with a camera that is inserted into a patient’s colon or large intestine –showed there was swelling and redness of the intestine, which indicate contact colitis or inflamation of the lining of the colon.

“She complained of abdominal pains three to four times a day,” Cervantes said.

Government lawyer Maria Juana Valeza insisted that Arroyo could receive treatment in any other government hospital and urged the court to order her transfer to a different medical facility within the day.

But the parties sought 10 days to file their respective comments before the court.