Arroyo gets 5-hour furlough to visit cancer-stricken brother

By: Aries Joseph Hegina - 9 years ago

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo AP FILE PHOTO

Former President and incumbent Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was granted a five-hour furlough to visit her older brother, Arturo Macapagal.

Arroyo’s camp asked the anti-graft court last Friday to visit her 72-year-old brother who was confined at the Makati Medical Center for stage four prostate cancer.

The court allowed Arroyo’s request to visit her brother from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, exclusive of travel time. She will also shoulder travel costs.

The former president’s legal counsels said that Macapagal has been confined in the intensive care unit at the said hospital since July 2.

“Mr. Macapagal, who is already 72 years old, may not have long to live. His cancer has spread to his brain, bones and lungs. While the family continues to pray for a miracle, the doctors are of the opinion that Mr. Macapagal’s condition may further decline in the coming days,” Arroyo said in her motion.

Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center since 2012 and is facing a plunder case for misusing P366 million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Arturo Macapagal is the second child of former president Diosdado Macapagal with his first wife, Purita dela Rosa, who passed away in 1943.

Gloria Arroyo is the daughter of Macapagal with his second wife, Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg.