Manila: A regional trial court rejected the request of former president Gloria Arroyo to celebrate Christmas and New Year at her home, but allowed her close relatives to spend the holidays with her in a government hospital where she has been held under arrest for alleged election fraud in 2007.
"They (Arroyo's relatives) are allowed to spend Christmas [with her] at the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre (VMMC) from December 24 to 26," said Joel Pelicano, clerk of court of the Pasay City's regional trial court where Arroyo's case is being heard.
Judge Jesus Mupas also allowed Arroyo to receive her relatives at VMMC from December 31 to January 2, said Pelicano.
Sources said the Arroyo family could hold parties during the visit.
The court upheld the statement of Commission on Elections (Comelec) lawyer Maria Juan Valesa who claimed that transferring Arroyo from, the hospital to her residence and vice versa would be a high security risk.
The judge's decision was in response to Arroyo's request to go home and celebrate the Holiday Season with her family at La Vista, a posh subdivision in suburban Quezon City.
She has been suffering from a rare bone malady which prevented the fusion of the bones at the neck part of her spine following three surgeries she underwent at St. Luke's to correct her chronic neck pain.
Last December 9, Arroyo was transferred from St. Luke's Medical Centre, a private hospital in suburban Taguig, to VMMC, after Judge Mupas allowed her request for hospital arrest.
On November 18, she was arrested at St. Luke's for alleged election in the 2007 congressional election.
She stayed at St. Luke's starting November 15, after the bureau of immigration prevented her from going to Singapore for medical treatment.
