ATTENDING DOCTOR TO
TESTIFY TODAY ON GMA HEALTH CONDITION
[EARLIER PHOTO
COURTESY OF CNN - FORMER PRESIDENT GLORIA ARROYO: Phl govt readies jail for
ex-leader]
MANILA, DECEMBER 1,
2011 (STAR) By
Perseus Echeminada - An official of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC)
Branch 112 confirmed yesterday that a doctor of ailing Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo would testify today regarding the health condition of the
accused former head of state.
Lawyer Joel Pelicano, clerk
of court, said the RTC would hear the testimony of Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes to
determine if Arroyo still needs to be confined in a private hospital.
Defense lawyers are seeking
a five-day extension of the former president's stay at the St. Luke's Medical
Center (SLMC) in Taguig City where she is being treated for a rare bone disorder
and other complications.
The court appearance of Dr.
Cervantes was an offshoot of the urgent motion filed by defense lawyers led by
Jose Flaminiano for the extension of Arroyo's stay in hospital.
This will be the second
court appearance of Cervantes, a liver disease specialist, who has been the
attending physician of Arroyo.
Cervantes and Doctors Mario
Ver and Roberto Mirasol appeared in court last Friday but defense lawyers
blocked their testimony after they also withdrew their motion for hospital
arrest for Arroyo.
Defense lawyers argued that
testimony of the doctors might violate the right of the patient's
confidentiality of her medical records.
The opposition of the
defense panel to let the doctors testify prompted the prosecution panel to move
for the immediate transfer of Arroyo to the detention cell at the Southern
Police District (SPD) also in Taguig.
The court, however, ruled
that one of the doctors must testify for initial determination of the actual
health condition of Arroyo.
Dr. Ver testified that
Arroyo is recovering and already fit to go home and can be treated as an
outpatient.
After the testimony of Ver
the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prosecution panel headed by Maria Juana
Valesa filed a motion asking the court for the immediate transfer of the patient
from SLMC to SPD.
RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus
Mupas has already inspected the SPD detention cell and other possible detention
facilities at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna St.,
Veterans Memorial Medical Center, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center, all in
Quezon City.
Comelec filed electoral
sabotage charges against Arroyo, former provincial elections supervisor Lintang
Bedol, and former Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly
rigging results in senatorial elections in Maguindanao in the 2007 polls.
The filing of information
was approved by Comelec commissioners in session last Nov. 18 upon
recommendation of the joint Department of Justice-Comelec panel that conducted
the preliminary investigation.
The Pasay RTC issued a
warrant of arrest against Arroyo that same day.
The charges against Arroyo
were based on the testimony of former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie
Unas, who claimed that he heard the former president instruct Ampatuan to ensure
the 12-0 victory of senatorial candidates of the then administration's Team
Unity alliance in Maguindanao during an event at Malacañang days before the
polls.
Pampanga leaders'
appeal
Local officials and Catholic
priests from Pampanga appealed yesterday for compassionate and humanitarian
treatment for Arroyo and that she be placed under house arrest in her ancestral
home in Lubao town.
In a manifesto, the
signatories said while charges of electoral sabotage have been filed against
Arroyo, they said she is "nonetheless entitled to her constitutional rights to
health and well-being, as well as to the presumption of innocence until proven
otherwise."
The joint statement came as
the Pasay RTC is deliberating on petitions from the former leader's lawyers that
she be placed under house arrest. The Comelec, however, wants her placed in the
SPD detention facility.
"Considering her
debilitating sickness, age and gender and stature as a former president, vice
president and senator of the Philippines, and now representative of the second
district of Pampanga, we believe that CGMA (Arroyo's initials) is entitled to a
compassionate and humanitarian treatment while charges against her are being
heard," the manifesto read.
"Thus, we, the undersigned
people of Pampanga, equally interested in the search for truth and justice on
all accusations leveled against her, hereby respectfully manifest to the
Honorable Judge and prosecuting authorities our strong support for the house
arrest of Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at her ancestral home in Lubao,
Pampanga," it said.
The signatories said putting
Arroyo "under house arrest would contribute to her recovery from her
debilitating sickness that would provide her the strength to face all the
accusations leveled against her and at the same time allow her to serve her
constituents."
They also guaranteed that
she will face all the charges filed against her.
The signatories include
parish priests from different parishes in the province including Rev. Fr.
Rodolfo de Guzman, Fr. John Cariño Fr. Rustom Tanglad, Fr. Noli Fernandez, Fr.
Jess Manabat, Fr. Mark Manabat, Msgr. Joel Tubig, Fr. Simeon Pabustan Jr., Fr.
Donatielo Ocampo, Fr. Manuel Sta. Maria, Fr. Alfredo David, Fr. Allan Sicat,
Msgr. Aquilino Ordoñez, and Fr. Ferdinand Gopez.
The other signatories were
Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan president Krizzanel Garbo, Pampanga Mayors'
League head Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, Federation of ABS president Mayor
Melchor Pingol, Federation of Senior Citizens' Association of the Philippines
Region II head Linda David, as well as barangay captains of the province.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Tito
Diaz of Lubao, Pampanga and several local councilors yesterday went to St.
Luke's to express their support for Arroyo.
Councilor Marlon Villeza
said the residents of Pampanga still support Arroyo.
Meanwhile, the leaders of
the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have decided to
distance themselves from the case of Arroyo.
CBCP secretary-general
Monsignor Juanito Figura said that they would not be issuing any official
statement on the present predicament and issues surrounding the former president
because it is a legal matter.
Outgoing CBCP president
Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar yesterday presided over the CBCP
Permanent Council meeting.
Also present were incoming
CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other members of the 2011-2013
Permanent Council. Some 15 bishops attended the meeting.
"The Permanent Council, in a
joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming members, after a careful
deliberation, feels that it has no reason to issue a pastoral statement on the
current issues surrounding the accusations brought against Rep. Gloria Arroyo,"
said Figura.
He explained that as
religious leaders — shepherds — the bishops humbly admit that purely legal
matters are not within their competence. But they are happy and encouraged that
government institutions that should be responding to the issues are actually
moving.
"There have been
difficulties encountered, but we pray for guidance that these would be resolved
soon according to our law," he said. - With Evelyn Macairan,
Aie Balagtas See, Paolo Romero
Reported by: Sol Jose
Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE
All rights
reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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