‘Arroyo has turned frail, thinner in hospital, should be granted house arrest’

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A lawmaker wants the House of Representatives to express sympathy for former President now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo who he described as thin, fragile and even incapacitated to swallow food as she is under hospital detention for plunder for a charity funds mess.

This as the House justice committee hearing tackled Wednesday the resolution urging the Sandiganbayan to grant house arrest for Arroyo due to “humanitarian considerations” filed by 1-Bap partylist representative Silvestre Bello III, Arroyo’s former justice secretary.

“Kapag makikita niyo si (If you see the) former President, parang lumiit (she looks thinner). From my estimate, she would not be more than 80 pounds. Talagang (She’s really) very frail” was how Bello described Arroyo.

The resolution said Arroyo should be placed under house arrest “with the sole end .. of providing (her) such surroundings and atmosphere as may be conducive to her recuperation and well-being, surrounded and cared for by her loving and caring family.”

Bello painted a dire picture before lawmakers of the usually stern-looking former president who has been unpopular in polls during her term.

Bello shared a story of one meeting when Arroyo requested from Bello durian and fish from Davao which he said is easy to digest because of Arroyo’s difficulty in swallowing.

Arroyo is suffering from cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones and cartilage of the neck that causes her frequent episodes of choking.

Doctor’s groups had urged the antigraft court to place Arroyo under house arrest as she faces a plunder charge for the alleged misuse for personal gain of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Arroyo’s defense meanwhile had moved for bail petitions which have been consistently denied by the court.

Arroyo had told the court her condition is not improving while she is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

“Kapag humihingi siya ng pagkain (If she’s asking for food), she always say either durian or fish, because hindi siya makakain ng (she couldn’t eat) solid food. Beef or pork, nahihirap siyang lumunok (she’s having a hard time to swallow), because of an error sa operation in her neck,” Bello said.

Bello went on to compare the situation in National Bilibid Prison where a raid was conducted to bust influential detainees enjoying a lavish lifestyle with their own luxurious quarters, sex toys and other contraband.

“But the former President is not even allowed to watch television. She’s derived to see her own cellphone. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan why,” Bello said.

The Arroyo ally also said most of her co-accused in the plunder case were granted bail while Arroyo remains in detention despite her condition.

“That’s why in the spirit of mercy ad compassion, I’m appealing to members of this committee and Congress to come out with an expression of sentimentality to the Sandiganbayan,” Bello said.

Though persons may send letters to the antigraft court, the Sandiganbayan can only act on petitions duly filed as motions.

Akbayan Representative Barry Gutierrez, however, said Congress would be “bending over backwards” if it would express support for Arroyo’s house arrest while looking into the plight of detainees who also have health concerns but are not as well connected and privileged as Arroyo.

Gutierrez clarified though while he sympathizes for the former president, granting house arrest may results in a backlash on public opinion especially in light of the detention of three senators – Ramon Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile – over the alleged pork barrel scam.

“My concern is precisely how this will be taken by the general public. Would it not be viewed as extending special privileges, Congress bending over backwards to accommodate this while turning a blind eye to the fate of other persons in similar situations but do not have privileges in Congress?” Gutierrez said.

“The point is if we’re going to extend this privilege to high-ranking officials, the question will arise why are we not conducting thorough review of our state of inmates? The difference would seem to be they have access to Congress and they have connections in government whereas ordinary Filipinos in the same situation do not have such access,” he added.

Bello denied granting special privileges to Arroyo, saying if a poor detainee would ask a similar plea he would gladly fight for it.

“I do not have any distinction. If you are the President, or the poorest citizen, I would do that,” Bello said.

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