Arroyo gets check-up at St Luke’s Medical Center

MANILA, Philippines – Former president and current Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived at St Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City at about 9 am, Wednesday, October 21, to get a check-up for what she says are “new ailments.” (READ: Sandiganbayan allows Arroyo check-up at St Luke’s)

A 3-page motion was filed in September and granted in early October this year by the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court, to allow the detained congresswoman to be confined at St Luke’s from 9 am on October 21 to 4 pm on October 22. The Sandiganbayan cited humanitarian considerations in allowing Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at Veterans Memorial Medical Center, to get the check-up.

She is currently suffering from cervical spondylosis, a health issue that began in 2012 when a titanium implant in her spine became disdlodged and protruded into her esophagus.

According to one of her lawyers Larry Gadon, the new ailment causes extreme pain and weakness in her left hand. 

On Tuesday, October 20, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order suspending the hearings at the Sandiganbayan for 30 days. She is facing trial for allegedly approving the diversion of P366 million in state lottery intelligence funds.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion urging the Philippine government to release Arroyo and compensate her for time detained at the hospital. – Rappler.com