Judge Mupas lets Arroyo stay at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been allowed to remain at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City as her doctors said she needed continuous treatment for various ailments.

Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas gave the order Thursday, saying that Arroyo can stay at the hospital provided her doctors submit a monthly report on her condition to the court.

Mupas also directed the doctors to submit the monthly expenses of Arroyo at the hospital after the prosecution and lawyers for the Commission on Elections expressed concern that her hospital bills might be ballooning.

Mupas issued the ruling after Benjamin Santos, counsel for Arroyo, asked the court to let her stay in the hospital on account of her continuing treatment and therapy, as testified on by her doctor, Antonio Sison.

The Comelec, which had asked the court to transfer Arroyo to a regular detention cell, did not object to Santos’ manifestation, but demanded that her doctors submit updates on Arroyo’s condition.

Despite its agreement that Arroyo stay at the VMMC, the Comelec maintained that its earlier petition stands, especially if Arroyo’s condition improves.

Mupas ordered Arroyo’s team of doctors to submit their first medical report on her condition on March 10.

Originally posted at 11:37 am | Thursday, February 09,  2012