Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Christmas furlough from hospital arrest remained peaceful so far as the Philippine National Police continued to keep a close watch on the third day.
Arroyo, an incumbent Pampanga congresswoman, is set to return today to the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center after a four-day stay with her family at her home in La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the PNP is in charge of securing the congresswoman during her days away from hospital detention.
Earlier this week, the Sandiganbayan allowed Arroyo, 67, to spend the holidays at her house in La Vista from Dec. 23 to 26 in the spirit of “mercy and compassion,” and given the upcoming papal visit next year.
She is under hospital detention on plunder charges wherein she for allegedly used P366 million in intelligence funds for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2008 to 2010 for her personal gain.