Doctors fail to ‘reconstruct’ former President Arroyo’s spine implant

MANILA, Philippines – Doctors failed to reconstruct the implant that would have supported the cervical spine of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a day after she underwent surgery to remove the one infected by bacteria, her attending physician said Thursday.

Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes told a live news conference at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City that Arroyo was conscious although she continues to wear external support for her cervical spine in the absence of an implant.

Cervantes said Arroyo’s doctors were hopeful that they could control the infection through “antibiotics, effective management and prayers”.

She said that Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo stayed in the hospital the whole night and that only immediate family members were allowed to visit the former leader.

The former first gentleman was scheduled to attend a Senate inquiry this Thursday into his alleged involvement in the sale of second-hand choppers that were passed off as brand new to the Philippine National Police in 2009.

He did not attend, however, citing “serious health condition” that could cause “sudden death”, as told to him by his doctors.

Arroyo himself had been subjected to a major heart operation and his condition has been monitored since.