Manila: A UN independent body on Wednesday formally confirmed having received an “arbitrary detention” complaint submitted by former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) said they have received the petition filed by Amal Alamuddin-Clooney, a high-profile human rights lawyer representing the former leader.

Alamuddin-Clooney stated in the document that the continued detention of the 67-year-old Arroyo, who has been suffering from a number of medical conditions since being taken into custody in 2011, is unnecessary.

Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the government-run Veterans Memorial Medical Centre in Quezon City and had been charged with plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of some P366 million (Dhs 30.37 million) in funds earned from the state lottery, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and for committing fraud during the 2007 senatorial elections.

The UNWGAD did not reveal details of the petition and has cautioned parties involved in the case from issuing statements on the matter.

“The confidentiality rule is part of a normal process adopted by the UN Special Procedures mechanisms in order to protect all parties. Consequently, none of the Working Group’s five members can comment publicly on a case until the Working Group issues an opinion. Once they issue an opinion, only the Group’s experts can talk about their decisions; no one at OHCHR [Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights] can talk on their behalf,” UNWGAD said.

The UNWGAD is made up of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system. It is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis, UNWGAD says. They are not UN staff, do not receive a salary for their work and are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.

Earlier, attorney Modesto Ticman, who is among the Arroyo lawyers working with Alamuddin-Clooney, said the case was filed on February 26 before UNWGAD.

In their petition, Alamuddin-Clooney and Arroyo’s lawyers call on the government to release the former president immediately, arguing her health is in poor condition and that the current administration is violating her rights. They also say her detention is being deliberately prolonged.

Arroyo served as president for nine years and is considered the longest serving Philippine leader after Ferdinand Marcos Sr, who was in power for more than two decades.

Sometime in mid-2011, Arroyo was diagnosed with a condition affecting her spine, which makes it difficult for her to swallow food.