Arroyo to travel to France, Singapore; asks for 7-day ‘medical and wellness leave’

FILE PHOTO: Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked for “medical and wellness leave” for seven session days as she is set to travel to France and Singapore.

The Pampanga congresswoman’s office disclosed Tuesday that the former President asked Speaker Martin Romualdez to grant her leave request and that Arroyo’s personal doctor has certified her “as no longer infectious” after contracting COVID-19.

But Arroyo’s office also said she still intends to join sessions via Zoom while abroad.

“[F]ormer President Arroyo has requested Speaker Martin Romualdez to permit her to take a medical and wellness leave for seven session days,” her office said in a statement.

“She intends, however, to join the sessions of Congress via Zoom while she is out of the country. [After that, she] will travel to France and Singapore,” it added.

“She has been certified by her personal physician as no longer infectious, but she could not attend the SONA because the President’s presence required a negative PCR test for all attending the SONA, whereas she tested positive on PCR  two days before the SONA,” Arroyo’s office also explained.

Arroyo’s office announced she tested positive for the coronavirus, preventing her from attending President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Arroyo reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus in an antigen test on July 15 and immediately placed herself in quarantine.

Marcos Jr.’s Sona

Nevertheless, Arroyo lauded Marcos Jr.’s first Sona as “very impressive both in content and delivery.”

“It is appropriately comprehensive and provides a blueprint for a medium-term action plan that can be completed with the full cooperation of Congress and the continued support of the Filipino nation,” she said in the same statement.

“The President outlined 19 priority bills that will impact greatly on the people’s aspirations to return to the growth path and sustain the progress. It is the job of the 19th Congress to begin to implement the legislative task with focus, determination, and momentum. I urge my fellow legislators to stay united and dedicated in support of the President’s legislative agenda”, she added.

Arroyo then enumerated that she has filed three of the 19 priority bills outlined by Marcos Jr.

These three bills, she added, are for the creation of the Department of Water Resources, the establishment of a comprehensive nuclear regulatory framework and the creation of the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission which can serve as a companion bill to the President’s proposal to amend the EPIRA (R.A. 9136), and mandatory Reserved Officers Corps Training for senior high school students.

KGA/abc