More clerics to visit Arroyo

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—More Catholic church leaders are scheduled to visit former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to pray for her good health, for “truth and justice” for her legal cases, and for the well-being of survivors of recent calamities.

Four bishops scheduled to visit Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on Sunday are scheduled to say Mass at 11 a.m., according to her chief of staff, Raul Lambino.

The four bishops are retired Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao; Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of San Fernando, La Union; Bishop Emilio Marquez of Lucena, Quezon; and Bishop Ramon Villena of Nueva Vizcaya, said Lambino.

“There will be Mass at 11 a.m.  in the VMMC for the continuing recovery and improvement of (Arroyo’s) health condition which has deteriorated as per her doctor’s findings in the recent months, for truth and justice to prevail in the cases filed against her, and for our countrymen who have suffered much in the grave calamities that happened in the recent past,” Lambino said in a text message.

Arroyo has been detained at the VMMC for plunder charges stemming from the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. She had requested to be placed at the hospital because of her poor health, stemming from her spine problem or a condition known as cervical spondylosis, for which she has undergone surgery.

The four bishops expected on Sunday are not the first Catholic leaders to visit the embattled former chief executive.

Earlier, Arroyo received retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal critic when she was President. Cruz wished Arroyo well and later on backed calls for her to be placed under house arrest.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has also visited her.

High-profile political personalities have also come a calling, the latest of whom was former first lady Imelda Marcos who described Arroyo’s detention as “cruel” and “unjust.”

Other previous visitors include former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.