MANILA, Philippines – Granting former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo temporary release from detention to spend her birthday in Lubao, Pampanga would contribute to her overall wellness, her physician told the court Thursday.
Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“The continued confinement in a confined area is not conducive for her. Allowing her to have bonding with family and friends would contribute to her wellness,” Dr. Martha Nucum, Arroyo’s physician at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) told reporters in an interview.
Arroyo’s court presented Nucum before the Sandiganbayan to justify its petition to allow the former President for a three day birthday furlough from April 4 to 6.
While Nucum mentioned that there is no significant clinical improvement in Arroyo’s condition, she said she is fit to travel.
She added that travelling for two hours from VMMC to her hometown in Pampanga would not be detrimental to her present condition.
After the hearing of the Sandiganbayan first division on Arroyo’s plea, the anti-graft court said their petition has been submitted for resolution.
Arroyo’s camp, meanwhile, said they expect the court to grant Arroyo this “simple privilege.”
Arroyo is under hospital arrest and charged with plunder in the alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds that went to fictitious expenses in the last two and a half years of her term.
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