Cops still deployed at Veterans hospital, waiting for Arroyo
MANILA, Philippines – The sprawling compound of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center remained heavily guarded on Monday, despite the deferment of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s transfer from St. Luke’s Medical Center, on Friday.
Policemen from the Quezon City Police District swarmed all over the golf course to secure the VMMC where the lawmaker would be detained.
“We have been instructed to maintain heightened security because of the reported ‘oplan’ against the former president,” a police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The police official was referring to an alleged plot to kill Arroyo and dubbed “Oplan Put the Little Girl to Sleep.”
This developed as a Pasay City court granted Arroyo a few more days to stay at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City or until Friday.
Judge Jesus Mupas of Regional Trial Court Branch 112 deferred the former president’s transfer after her lawyers said the presidential suite should still be spruced up with more fixtures for her proper care.
The Pampanga congresswoman is facing electoral sabotage charges before the Pasay City court.
A source said 200 policemen have been deployed at the VMMC with four control points located at nearby roads leading to the presidential suite.
The facility is mainly apart from the hospital and is located at the back of the VMMC compound. The presidential suite would take a few minutes’ drive from the North Ave. gate.
Since Saturday, the facility has been restricted to members of the media who were forced to stay outside the complex itself.
Security guards have prevented crew cabs and reporters from entering the sprawling hospital compound and golf course as part of the heightened security.
The restrictions on the non-entry of media inside the compound have been in place since Saturday, forcing them to stay and park on North Ave.
Policemen have installed several tents inside the VMMC compound, with more uniformed personnel deployed than compared to last week.
An informant said even a police truck filled with armed policemen has been placed on standby with several mobile cars parked inside the compound.
Some policemen even wore civilian clothes, the source added. Other uniformed officers were stationed at some waiting sheds leading to the main hospital lobby.
The source added that there were also police officers manning almost every corner inside the hospital, aside from the regular security guards.
