Arroyo refuses airlift due to bad weather

MANILA, Philippines — Former President, now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo refused to be airlifted to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) due to bad weather Friday.

Arroyo spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn told a press conference that her boss has fear of flying. “She will not take the chopper to VMMC especially in this bad weather.”

Horn said that they are puzzled by the sudden change of plan because both parties had agreed to travel by car during the three meetings that they had prior this day.

“We had three meetings and we have agreed that it will be a land transfer. I don’t know why they are insisting now that it should be by air,” Horn said.

“I do not see any security nightmare if [she will be transferred by land]. The [decoy] convoy arrived safely at VMMC. We want to go by land, we really won’t mind even if we have to take a cab,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo remains at St. Luke’s.

Horn accused the police authorities and the government of deliberately delaying the transfer to allow anti-GMA supporters to converge.

“But we hope that it is not really their intention,” Horn said.

Originally posted: 11:33 am | Friday, December 9th, 2011