Arroyo wants own cook, nurse at VMMC

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to be allowed to use a laptop, have her own nurse and cook while under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Mrs. Arroyo apparently wanted to be sure that the medicine and the food that will be given to her are safe.

"Magdadala kami ng sariling nurse at kusinero na sana ay pagayan ng korte (We hope the court will allow us to bring our own nurse and cook)," Elena Bautista-Horn, Mrs. Arroyo's spokesperson, said after inspecting the hospital suite at the VMMC where the former president will stay while under hospital arrest.

The request will be made as the camp of the former president insisted today that their source, who revealed "Oplan: Put The Little Girl To Sleep", is very reliable.

Horn still declined to reveal the identity of their source, allegedly someone who works in a government office. The information allegedly was relayed by the source to a former member of Mrs. Arroyo's cabinet last week.

She added that their source is more reliable than the source of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Mrs. Arroyo's alleged plan to seek political asylum in another country.

Horn went to the VMMC with Mrs. Arroyo's son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, this morning. They conducted an ocular inspection and took pictures of the hospital room prepared by the VMMC management for the former president.

Writing a book

Meanwhile, Horn said that the lawyers of the former president will also ask Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas, who hears the electoral sabotage case of Mrs. Arroyo, to allow her to use a laptop while at the VMMC.

She said Mrs. Arroyo is planning to write a book while in detention. She added that Mrs. Arroyo would also want to continue her work as representative of Pampanga's 2nd district.

There are calls for Mrs. Arroyo to give up her seat at the House of Representatives and ask her other son, Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Mikey Arroyo, to takeover in an acting position.

"Balak po rin kasing magsulat siya ng libro habang nandoon. Mahihirapan naman po sya kung mag-handwrite siya kasi maga ang kanang kamay nya dahil sa swero," Horn added.

She said Mrs. Arroyo's legal counsels also filed a motion for reconsideration before the Pasay court to allow her to stay at St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City while she is being treated for colitis and diarrhea.

She said Mrs. Arroyo would want to remain confined at the SLMC until she fully recovers.

Judge Mupas yesterday ordered Mrs. Arroyo to transfer to the VMMC by Tuesday. Copies of the order were also sent to concerned government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), which has been tasked to trasnport the former president from SLMC to VMMC.

The PNP has formed Task Force FPGMA, which will handle the transfer and supervise the security preparations for the former president at the VMMC.

In a two-page order, Judge Mupas said that Mrs. Arroyo is barred from using a cellular phone and a laptop to avoid the perception that the court is giving her a VIP treatment.

Robredo earlier announced that Mrs. Arroyo's room at the VMMC will be ready by Sunday. He is optimistic that Mrs. Arroyo's camp will like the room, which he said is more spacious and has better accommodation compared to a hotel.