Arroyo’s health not improving, VMMC med bulletin shows

THE doctors of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo said her condition has not improved since she was detained in the hospital for plunder over a charity funds mess.

In a motion filed before the Sandiganbayan First Division hearing the plunder case, Arroyo’s lawyers attached the latest medical bulletin from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she is detained.

According to the June 4 medical certificate signed by spine surgeon Antonio Sison and chief medical professional staff Martha Nucum, the doctors said Arroyo “in spite of all the medical modalities rendered… has not shown any significant clinical improvement and she continues to feel the ill effects of her previous surgeries. “

“Presently, she is maintained on twice a week physical therapy and rehabilitation, sun exposure (one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon), and is given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain as needed. She also takes supplements like Calcium, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, and Magnesium Oxide. She continues to experience on and off moderate to severe pain over arms radiating to nuchal area, lumbosacrum and calf area, which is temporarily relieved by analgesic,” the medical certificate read.

“Recently, she has been experiencing intermittent migraine headache which responds temporarily to pain medication,” it also said.

The doctors were in favor to have Arroyo released from hospital confinement and so she could be with family and loved ones to speed up her recovery.

“Studies show that patients who are socially isolated with long periods of confinement would recover more slowly since hormones released in response to the emotional stress could suppress the patient’s immune system and delay healing,” the doctors say.

“A holistic approach is the best option in her case which includes family bonding, emotional stability and spiritual upliftment which cannot be attained in her present status,” they added.

Arroyo’s lawyers also told the court that the residents in Arroyo’s places of residence posed no objection to Arroyo’s house arrest motion in Lubao, Pampanga and in La Vista subdivision, Quezon city.

In a letter to Arroyo’s lawyers, La Vista Association Inc. said it does not object to the house arrest motion of Arroyo. The letter was penned by the Board of Governors.

Meanwhile, in a resolution released by the municipality of Lubao, the barangay (village) captain and barangay councilors of Barangay San Nicolas, Lubao where Arroyo’s residence is located expressed support for the full recovery of Arroyo who they called a “dear daughter of Lubao, Pampanga.”

The barangay officials also cited the resolution adopted by the House of Representative expressing the sentiments of the chamber in support of Arroyo’s house arrest.

“We have no objection to former President Arroyo being placed under house arrest in Lubao, Pampanga as her house arrest will not affect the privacy and security of the residents of the barangay,” read the resolution signed by Barangay Captain Ariel Allado and seven other councilors.

Arroyo filed the motion for house arrest a day after the antigraft court’s first division denied her demurrer of evidence, a move to dismiss the supposedly weak evidence against her and dismiss the case.

She had asked the court to modify her custodial arrangements and have her detained either at the 1,000- square meter property in La Vista subdivision, or at the 500-square-meter Lubao residence, citing her worsening condition even while under hospital detention.

Arroyo, 68, is detained at the VMMC for plunder for allegedly diverting funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s operating budget to the confidential or intelligence fund, which could be withdrawn or accessed any time and with few restrictions from 2008 to 2010.

The former president is confined at the VMMC as she claimed to be suffering from cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones and cartilage of the neck, and a degenerative lumbar spine disease and osteoporosis.

Arroyo had also complained of “generalized body weakness, persistent pain over the nuchal and left shoulder with numbness of both hands and frequent episodes of choking,” according to the VMMC. AC