Allies, former Cabinet members visit Arroyo in hospital

MANILA, Philippines—Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in “better spirits” after a stream of  visitors—former and current allies in the House of Representatives and former Cabinet members—kept her company in her hospital suite in the past  few days, one such ally said Wednesday.

Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez said that the presence of familiar faces has had a “positive effect” on the Pampanga representative as she was chatty and buoyant when he paid a visit late Monday night.

“She was trying to speak to all of us even if she was lying flat on her back due to doctors’ orders. She was upbeat throughout. She even ate some vegetables (broccoli) while we were there,” said Suarez in an interview with the Inquirer.

Suarez said the presence of “familiar faces” had visibily “buoyed” her up considering her legal situation and health condition.  Suarez claimed that the stress from her aborted departure last November 15 and her subsequent arrest on a charge of electoral sabotage had aggravated her bad back and neck.

“We went there as friends and we discussed a lot of things, including her latest medical examination, which would show that her problem  has aggravated,” said House Minority Edcel Lagman, adding that the former President’s neck problem had spread lower down her spine so that she has been told not to walk.

“This is an observation: She wasn’t  emotional. Even at the airport, you’ll notice that she didn’t even utter a word, but you could see in her face that she was really disgusted and disappointed by the cruelty and indignity she received,” said Lagman.

Although they discussed a lot of things, Lagman said  they did not touch talk about mug shots published by the Inquirer.

Suarez said around 50 people visited Arroyo Monday night while another source said close to 30 were there the following day. Most of them passed through the hospital’s “back door” to escape the throng of reporters at the main entrance. He said there were no restrictions on visitors, which was why he was able to stay up to midnight.

“We went there because she was sick, period,” said Suarez amid speculation that the visit was meant for them to get their marching orders from Arroyo personally.