Arroyo ailment not life-threatening—Aquino spokesman

MANILA, Philippines – The Palace said on Wednesday it did not believe former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had a life-threatening ailment and asked her camp to present her doctors to tell all about her real health condition.

“It is our position that she is not under a life-threatening illness,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing, in reference to Arroyo, now a Pampanga congressional representative.

Lacierda said it was the Arroyo’s spokespersons who have been talking about the ailments of the former President.

“So ang hamon ko sa kanila, ilabas ninyo ang doctor. Ilabas ninyo ang doctor at sya ang magpapatunay na talagang life-threatening ang medical condition ng kanilang pasyente [So my challenge to them is to bring out the doctor. Let the doctor come out and let him prove that his patient’s medical condition is really life-threatening],” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the Palace had always taken the position that Arroyo was not suffering from a life-threatening condition ever since she sought to travel abroad. He said that for one, Arroyo had even sought to attend a forum organized by former US President Bill Clinton.

Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City since last week after the Department of Justice foiled her attempt to leave the country.

She faces facing an electoral sabotage case but her camp is questioning before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the DoJ-Commission on Elections panel that recommended the charge against her.

Originally posted at 4:54 p.m.