Lawyer welcomes court OK of Arroyo’s hospital arrest

MANILA, Philippines—Lawyers of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday welcomes the decision of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 allowing the former leader to stay at Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC)

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said Mrs. Arroyo, now Pampanga Representative needs continuous medical supervision.

He added that no one should question why the government is paying for her hospitalization.

In the first place, he said Mrs. Arroyo was at St. Lukes, shouldering her hospital bills but it was the government who insisted that they should be moved to a government hospital.

Along with the order allowing Arroyo to stay at VMMC, Pasay RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas also required VMMC to issue a monthly medical report together with the costs incurred by Arroyo’s stay at the hospital.