Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is currently detained under hospital-arrest at Veterans Memorial Medical Center for plunder case filed against her in connection with Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds alleged misuse.
Congresswoman Arroyo was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis or cervical radiculopathy in 2011. On July 25 2011, she was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center and she had gone three surgeries since then, one 5-hour spine surgery and two more in August 2011, with the last one complicating further her hypoparathyroidism.
Rep. Silvestre Bello III of 1BAP party list, former cabinet member in the Arroyo administration filed a resolution in the lower house asking permission from Sandiganbayan for a month-long Christmas break for the ex-president due to poor health condition.
Bello said,“In the spirit of Christmas and out of humanitarian Christian considerations, I urge the Sandiganbayan to consider giving former President, Vice-President, senator, and incumbent congressman a Christmas furlough to give her the opportunity to get psychological effect of family bonding.”
Bello served as cabinet secretary of the justice department under Arroyo administration.
“If you see her, very sick si Congresswoman Arroyo and furlough would help improve her health. I was able to talk to her. May sakit siya (She is sick). She could hardly speak to me. I would ask for a one-month furlough. I leave it to the Sandiganbayan,” he said after he saw the former leader’s deteriorating physical condition.
“By accident, I saw her. Nakita ko ang physical appearance, payat na payat. Kinukulubot na kamay at mukha. She’s sick. She needs immediate medical attention,” Bello added.
But Bello was firm in his argument and insisted, “She’s sick. I’ll do the same thing for all detainees. Any detainee is entitled if she so desires upon proper motion. May distinction iyan.”