Arroyo supporters mass in front of St. Luke’s in Taguig

FOR GLORIA. Supporters of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mass at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City as a local policeman watches ahead of the former president's transfer to Veterans' Memorial Medical Center in Taguig City this Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. RUEL PEREZ/Radyo Inquirer 990AM

MANILA, Philippines — Supporters of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo trooped to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to send her off and show solidarity with the former president, whom, in so many placards, they describe as their chief benefactor.

Some 50 placard-carrying people, Arroyo’s cabalen (provincemates), massed in front of the hospital and attempted to get to its main driveway only to be stopped by security personnel and civil disturbance policemen of the Southern Police District.

But it seemed the group was more interested in getting the attention of journalists covering the transfer of Arroyo, 64, to Veterans Memorial Medical Center and not the former president herself. They playfully displayed their banners in front of cameras, obliging television crews and photographers by posing for posterity.

Security personnel held their ground, standing in the way of rallyists who seemed to be content in front of the medical facility.