Pampanga governor weeps, asks for prayers for pal Arroyo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines— Governor Lilia Pineda on Monday said former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s condition was “not good” and asked prayers from Kapampangans (Pampanga natives). Doctors of Arroyo, however, had declared her to be out of danger following a spinal surgery last week. On Monday they said they were addressing the unusual rise of her blood pressure and minimizing her infection risk through antibiotics.

Before she delivered her state of the province address here on Monday, Pineda asked an audience of 1,000 people, mostly capitol employees and village officials, to devote a minute of silence to pray for the recovery of Arroyo.

“Hindi po talaga maganda ang kalagayan ni former President (The situation of the former President is not good),” Pineda said of the health condition of Arroyo, now representative of the second district of Pampanga.

But Arroyo had been transferred to a regular room after spending 24 hours in the intensive care unit of the St. Luke’s Medical Center at the Global City in Taguig, hospital officials said.

Arroyo’s half-sister, former Pampanga Vice Gov. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, said accounts by doctors described the surgery to be successful.

Pineda’s voice was shaking as she asked for prayers for Arroyo, Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao said.

Reporters who took positions near the stage of the Bren Guiao Convention Center here described the governor to be on the verge of tears as she spoke.

Pineda, 61, and Arroyo, 64, are known to have been friends for 30 years now. Arroyo’s father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, was a native of Lubao, the hometown of Pineda.

Before proceeding to report on the accomplishments of her administration, Pineda said: “Sana tulungan natin siyang magdasal na masagot niya yung mga issues sa kanya (Let’s pray with her that she may be able to answer the issues raised against her).”

Vice Governor Guiao said Pineda regained her composure and reported on the accomplishments that, he said, were “verifiable and documented, the results of consultations and cooperative efforts.”

Pineda said she “looked up to Arroyo, local officials, government agencies and national leaders” to help her solve the problems of garbage and flooding, bring infrastructure and increase revenues in the province.