VMMC: GMA NO LONGER ILL
MANILA, JANUARY
12,
2012 (STAR) By Paolo Romero - Former
President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may have to undergo
another risky surgery because the condition of her neck bones remains unstable,
her spokesperson and a political ally said yesterday.
Her spokesperson, Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, and House Senior Deputy Minority
Leader Danilo Suarez said in separate interviews with The STAR that Arroyo is
being looked after by several doctors, one of whom is a distant relative, at the
Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she is detained on charges of
electoral sabotage.
Horn and Suarez, however, said Arroyo's doctors would have to make more
visits and possibly conduct more tests on her before deciding if she needs to
undergo a fourth operation on her cervical spine.
Horn said one of the VMMC consultants, Dr. Antonio Sison, a distant relative
of Arroyo, said she has barely recovered since her last surgery in August at the
St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City.
He ordered the placement of a stiffer neck brace on his patient.
"He's (Sison) not happy with the way things are going but he's still going to
try to wean her (Arroyo) away from the neck brace," she said.
Arroyo, 64, first underwent surgery in July to stabilize her deteriorating
cervical spine with titanium implants.
However, a few days later, doctors found out that the implants were dislodged
and decided that another operation should be done to correct it.
The second surgery was aborted when doctors saw that there was an infection.
On the third surgery in August, surgeons added more implants and placed bone
grafts taken from her hip bone.
The former leader attempted to seek treatment in Singapore after the Supreme
Court lifted the travel ban against her in November.
She was, however, barred from leaving by the Bureau of Immigration and placed
under arrest a few days later.
The government has barred media interviews with her and restricted visits to
lawyers, relatives and close allies.
Suarez said Arroyo was worried over her medical condition during his last
visit to her last month.
"I think the doctors would come out with a medical opinion on her condition,"
he said.
Meanwhile, Arroyo's office at the House of Representatives said that an
economic paper she wrote detailing the country's outlook would be presented to
the media on Thursday.
FROM THE DAILY INQUIRER
Arroyo no longer ill, says hospital director By
Gil C. Cabacungan, Nancy C. Carvajal Philippine Daily Inquirer
Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is
no longer ill and does not need another surgery, said an official of Veterans
Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she is detained on charges of electoral
sabotage, a nonbailable offense.
"Our medical team has not made any recommendation for a new surgery. The
former President is stable and she has no active medical problem," Dr. Nona
Legaspi, VMMC director, said Wednesday.
Legaspi said Arroyo would not undergo another operation for her bone ailment.
The VMMC director made the statement following reports that Arroyo would
undergo another surgery supposedly based on the recommendation of her private
doctors.
Arroyo's congressional ally and spokesperson said that a doctor had ruled out
a fourth surgery, a development which has sparked renewed calls for her
immediate transfer to a jail cell from her hospital suite.
"The doctor, however, was not satisfied with how her cervical spine has been
healing from her previous operations. She needs more time to recuperate," said
Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez.
Suarez said Arroyo's physician at VMMC, a distant relative, did not recommend
surgery after a routine checkup Wednesday.
Arroyo spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, said that while there was no need
to go under the knife again since the former President's last surgery in August,
she was going through physical therapy sessions every day.
Doctor's visit
Legaspi said that she had been informed of the visit of Arroyo's private
doctor before Christmas.
"We were aware of the visit because our doctor was with him and there was no
discussion of a new surgery," she said.
Legaspi added that a doctor on the medical team assigned to Arroyo was
visiting her regularly.
"She is a part of the doctor's rounds and she is visited every time," the
VMMC official said.
Legaspi said the hospital could not say how long Arroyo would stay at VMMC.
"We are just following court orders. We cannot say how long she will stay and
when she can leave," she said.
With her doctors dousing speculation that Arroyo needed to undergo another
surgery, militant lawmakers said there was no reason for the Pampanga lawmaker
to stay a day longer in a hospital suite.
Regular detention
Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
should immediately file in the Pasay City Regional Trial Court a motion seeking
Arroyo's immediate transfer to a regular jail facility.
"She (Arroyo) can arrange for regular visits from her doctor in her cell,"
Casiño said in a text message.
Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said that while Arroyo should be given
due consideration befitting her status as a former President, she should still
be detained in a regular cell.
"The specific conditions should be regular detention, or loss of freedom of
physical movement," Bello said.
Arroyo attempted to fly out of the country last November to visit medical
specialists abroad after securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) on her
travel ban issued by the Bureau of Immigration.
But she was foiled when De Lima insisted that the TRO was defective and that
she should remain in the country to face trial for electoral sabotage and
plunder.
Arroyo was placed under arrest and has been staying at VMMC since last month.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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