Palace mum on Arroyo’s longer hospital arrest

MANILA, Philippines – The court, not the Aquino government, will decide the length of the extension of former President Arroyo’s hospital arrest.

This was stressed by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, February 5. Valte was asked if Malacanang would agree to a long extended hospital arrest for Mrs. Arroyo,

“That is something for the court to determine,” she said, referring to the Pasay Regional Trial Court, which issued an arrest warrant against the former president over an election sabotage case.

Valte added that Malacanang’s official comments on the issue is limited to security arrangements since the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the National Police are in charge of these.

Mrs. Arroyo is currently on hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where she is being treated for spine and cervical illnesses. Her doctors said she need to go through daily therapy for a couple of months.

She also asked the court if she could attend the wake of her brother-in-law, Iggy Arroyo who recently succumbed to liver cancer while being treated in London. – Rappler.com