HOSPITAL TRANSFER; ARROYOS TO FILE MR
[PHOTO - GOVERNMENT
HOSPITAL CONFINEMENT: Workers repair a room at the Veterans Memorial Medical
Center in Quezon City after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court issued an order
for the transfer of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo from the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City within five
days. (Photo by KJ ROSALES, BULLETIN)]
MANILA,
DECEMBER 2, 2011 (TRIBUNE) By Charlie V. Manalo -
A Pasay City court has ordered the transfer of former President and now Pampanga
Rep. Gloria Arroyo from St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig to the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.
The Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 Presiding Judge Jesus Mupas
yesterday issued the order after questioning one of Arroyo's attending
physicians at the St. Luke's — Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes — on the former
president's current health condition, during a hearing on electoral sabotage
charges against Arroyo.
At a press briefing after the hearing, Clerk of Court Joel Pelicano said the
transfer must be completed in five days.
"Considering that the accused is under the custody of the law, it is
difficult to justify if the accused will remain in a private hospital, so the
court decided to order the transfer of the former president to a government
facility," Pelicano said, adding the order also directed the Department of
National Defense (DND), the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Southern Police District
(SPD) to make the necessary security arrangements for the transfer.
VMMC is under the DND while the DILG has jurisdiction over the PNP which task
the SPD to secure Arroly at St. Luke's.
According to him, the court chose the VMMC for Arroyo since it has better
facilities and security.
Pelicano said they expect the transfer to be carried out by Tuesday next
week.
Arroyo will stay at the VMMC until she fully recovers from colitis and
mineral-bone disorder, he added.
But Pelicano said the order was without prejudice to Arroyo's pending motion
for house arrest.
On Thursday's hearing, Maria Juana Valeza, the legal counsel of the
Commission on Elections, said Arroyo should be transferred to a government
facility within the day considering that her health condition has improved.
She added that since Arroyo was already under the jurisdiction of the court,
the court has the authority to order such a move and limit her freedom.
Pelicano also junked speculation that the order was a form of harassment
against the 64-year-old Arroyo.
"We don't see that she is being harassed. All parties were given due process
in this and the court will not remove her right to choose any doctors she want
even while she was staying at Veterans. She can ask the court if she wants her
doctor in St. Lukes to go at the Veterans," she added.
The Arroyo camp, for its part, said it will be appealing Mupas' decision.
In a text message, lawyer Raul Lambino, counsel for Arroyo, said they are now
preparing a motion for reconsideration on Mupas' decision which they intend to
file in the next few days, which is on top of their motion to place the former
leader under house arrest instead.
"We will file a motion for reconsideration (MR) of the RTC's order to place
GMA (Arroyo) in VMMC, and reiterate our Motion to have her under house arrest
instead," he added.
Arroyo's spokesman Elena Bautista-Horn said they respect the court's order
but pointed out that Arroyo would continue to use all legal options open to her.
She added Arroyo should be allowed to have her doctors at the St. Lukes look
at her if needed.
"We will definitely comply with the orders of the court," Horn said even as
she reiterated their request for house arrest.
"If they are really sincere that nothing will go wrong and nothing bad
happens to her, then the best thing would be a house arrest. Remember the
detention of former president Arroyo is only for custodial arrangement. She has
not yet been convicted by the court," she said.
Arroyo has been staying at the SLMC since Nov. 15 when she and her husband,
former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo were prevented by Immigration
authorities from leaving the country to seek medical treatment abroad.
During Thursday's hearing, Gopez-Cervantes told the court that Arroyo was
well on her way to recovery.
She, however, said the former president had to continue to take anti-biotics
and undergo a medical reevaluation after five days though she added during the
cross-examination that it could be administered in another hospital.
She also presented a copy of her colonoscopy report showing a swelling and
redness on the left side of Arroyo's colon. The swelling and redness, she added,
indicated colitis or inflammation of the colon's lining. Mario J. Mallari, PNA and AFP
FROM MANILTA TIMES
No sweet life at presidential suite for Gloria
Published : Friday, December 02, 2011 00:00
[PHOTO - Police check the presidential suite of the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City (Metro Manila) where former President
Gloria Arroyo will be transferred next week. PHOTO BY RUY
MARTINEZ]
SHE will be detained at the presidential suite of the Veterans Memorial
Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City (Metro Manila) and accorded the courtesy
and respect that befit a former leader, but life won't be sweet for former
President Gloria Arroyo there.
Mrs. Arroyo will not be allowed to use computers or cell phones, and her
visitors will have to undergo strict security measures. Inside, several security
personnel, possibly from the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Police and
Security Protection Group (PSPG), will guard the former leader. Outside the
hospital, members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will be posted.
The suite, a 150-square-meter facility, has a receiving room, a patient room,
a family or living room and a dining room. There is also a room for security
personnel.
Dr. Nona Legazpi, VMMC director, said that the presidential suite is bullet
proof.
PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome vowed that they will strictly
follow the court order banning the use of laptops and cell phones in the
hospital facility where Mrs. Arroyo will stay.
He said that he is considering taping the PSPG to be the custodian of Mrs.
Arroyo, adding that they will follow the same procedures implemented during the
confinement of former President Joseph Estrada at VMMC.
"She will be confined, meaning we will verify and check visitors because she
will be placed under the custody of the PNP," Bartolome added.
The Department of National Defense (DND) gave assurances that Mrs. Arroyo,
now the representative of the second district of Pampanga Province, would be
accorded the courtesy and security arrangements fit for a former head of state
and a lawmaker.
"We want to assure the public that the VMMC will provide the necessary
accommodation, medical care and courtesies fit for the former president," DND
spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said.
"The staff of the VMCC have the necessary experience in handling this kind of
situation," he said. Galvez added that the VMMC presidential suite has been
spruced up and painted white. Pasay City (also in Metro Manila) Regional Trial
Court Judge Jesus Mupas inspected the facility last week.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said that Mrs. Arroyo
will be safe at the VMMC.
"There is no way that harm would come her way while confined at the veterans'
hospital. It is the duty of this government to use all its resources to secure
and protect her. If anything wrong happens to her while inside said government
facility, then it will be the liability of this administration," he said. With report from Jing Villamente
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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