Arroyo free from hospital arrest, transfers to another hospital

FILE PHOTO of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Lubao. Pampanga during the May 9 national elections  REUTERS/Stringer | by Rita Salonga

Manila, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is finally free from her 4-year hospital arrest, only to be transferred to another hospital.

Two days after the Supreme Court issued its decision on the plunder case filed by the Sandiganbayan against Arroyo, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, spokesman of the Arroyo family, confirmed that after her release, his client will proceed to St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Arroyo will undergo check-up to see if she is already fit to go back to work.

The Pampanga Representative may also seek medical help abroad for her Cervical Spondylosis commonly known as Neck Arthritis, since she is now free to travel.

According to Arroyo’s lawyers, the former President is already prepping to continue her duties as Congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga, which includes visiting her constituents in the said province.

It took over a day before Arroyo was able to leave the premises of the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center as the copy of the Supreme Court’s promulgation regarding her case was only given to the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.

Arroyo left the hospital unnoticed by media and her supporters.

The former President went straight to her home in La Vista, Quezon City.

Around 10pm, the Arroyo camp confirmed that the former President has arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital and will be spending the night for an executive check-up.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman said that amid the Supreme Court’s acquittal of the former President, its office is now prepping to file another plunder case against Arroyo.