Manila: An anti-graft court granted former President Gloria Arroyo a four-day Christmas vacation in her mansion in suburban Quezon City, adding she could leave on December 23 the hospital where she is under arrest for alleged corruption while in power from 2001 to 2010.
In a three-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan said that Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing her hometown in central Luzon at the House of Representative, should return to the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre (VMMC) in suburban Quezon City, at two in the afternoon of December 26.
She was “allowed to celebrate Christmas with her family at No. 14 Badjao Street, La Vista Village in the spirit of the Holiday Season and for “mercy and humanitarian reasons” as personified by Pope Francis who will visit the Philippines in mid-January, said the Sandiganbayan ruling that was penned by acting division chairman Justice Rodolfo Penferrada.
The Sandiganbayan said Arroyo will be under house arrest during her Christmas vacation and will be prevented from leaving her residence. She will not be able to use her mobile phone and the internet, and will be tightly watched by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were assigned for her security, the anti-graft court added.
“All expenses in connection with this furlough including those to be incurred by the PNP for personal escorts and security measures in the implementation of this resolution shall be shouldered and paid by accused-movant [Arroyo],” said the court.
She wanted to be with her family because she is very sick with cervical spondylosis and lumbar spine stenosis (or weakened vertebrae). She is still “very sad” over the death of her one-year old grandson, the child of her daughter Luli Arroyo-Bernas last November 2, her lawyers argued when her request for a 12-day vacation from Christmas to New Year was heard in court.
It was the first time that the Sandiganbayan allowed Arroyo to spend Christmas with her family.
“I think the favourable decision is more than enough to make the former president happy. That would somehow assuage the sad feelings of the former president for the loss of her grandson Jugo knowing that her other grandchildren would be with her during the Christmas season,” said Arroyo’s lawyer Modesto Ticman Jr.
Last December 18, the anti-graft court also allowed Arroyo to undergo a digital mammogram at the Makati Medical Centre, and to register as a voter at the community office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the 2016 elections.
The hospital where has been held under arrest has no equipment for a conclusive mammogram, said Arroyo in her December 8 petition, adding she is a high risk for breast cancer because it caused her mother’s death.
In 2012, Arroyo was detained at the VMMC after a plunder complaint filed against her: Alleged misuse of 366 million pesos (Dh30.5 million) fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during her term, which was raised with the Sandiganbayan.
