PNP chief: GMA is a detainee at VMMC

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is primarily a police detainee, not a patient at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said today as he assured that the police cannot give the Pampanga congresswoman a special treatment.

"In detention po si dating pangulo. Hindi naman siya dinala doon para magpagamot kundi para sa detention. Wala hong puwedeng special treatment na ibigay ang PNP sa dating pangulo," Bartolome said.

As a detainee, Mrs. Arroyo cannot bring in her own cook or a personal aide to her hospital suite inside the VMMC's vast compound in Quezon City.

Bartolome said that the suite has a small kitchen, but it cannot be used for cooking which would entail the use of a knife, a highly prohibited item in detention facilities.

"Bawal ang pagluluto sa loob. May kitchen po doon, may mga matatalim na bagay diyan na bawal na bawal po sa mga detention facility," the PNP chief said.

He said that Mrs. Arroyo's family can bring cooked food for her, but it would still have to be strictly inspected by policemen stationed outside her room.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday that Mrs. Arroyo's camp has submitted a list of possible regular visitors of the former president at the VMMC.

Bartolome said that the list was still being validated by the PNP's Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) headed by Director Lina Sarmiento. He said they are still finalizing the security protocol that will be implemented at the VMMC.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, said that the police are already implementing the order of Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 to bar Mrs. Arroyo from using cellular phones and laptop computers.

He said that the order is also applicable to Mrs. Arroyo's visitors, including members of her immediate family. Other people who will enter Mrs. Arroyo's suite, including nurses, will have to surrender their gadgets to the police security detail.

He added that Mrs. Arroyo cannot also get her own security guards, including her Presidential Security Group detail. He said that the PSPG has already taken over the security detail of the former president.

Bartolome, meanwhie, said that the PNP is now implementing a very tight security inspection around the VMMC. He said people who regularly enters the hospital compound would be inspected.

Visitors of the former president would have to go through at least least four poice inspection points before being allowed to enter her room.

Can't go to the chapel

Bartolome said during the interview that the PNP has already turned down Mrs. Arroyo's request to go to the VMMC's Ecumenical Chapel on a daily basis.

"Pati nga ang paglabas ng malayo kagaya ng pagpunta sa chapel, malayo po iyon sa room niya," he said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo should instead ask Judge Mupas to be allowed to go to the chapel.

He said that going to the chapel is considered a security risk for Mrs. Arroyo. He said that the chapel is usually crowded and it would be a security nightmare for the policemen detailed at the VMMC.

He said other personal requests coming from the camp of the former president would have to go through the court.

Elena Bautista-Horn, spokesperson of Mrs. Arroyo, had said that they are planning to ask for a small renovation of the suite, including the removal of the bathtub at the comfort room area. She said that Mrs. Arroyo would not be comfortable in using the bathtub because of her condition.

In a picture taken by Associate Press' Bullit Marquez, Mrs. Arroyo can already remove her neck brace. 

What Mrs. Arroyo can do is to stay in an open area near her suite for sunlight every morning and daily exercise, just like an ordinary prisoner, Bartolome said.

However, the police chief said that Mrs. Arroyo has to be out of public view. He said he has recommended the construction of a security barrier in the open space near the former president's suite to keep her out of sight of the people going in and out of the VMMC and the media.

He said that he became worried upon seeing in television news that Mrs. Arroyo can be spotted away from her suite.

"Kailangan ma-secure natin ang dating pangulo," he said, adding that it is one of the most important orders of the court to the police.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is facing an electoral sabotage case before Judge Mupas's branch, arrived at the VMMC yesterday afternoon in a convoy heavily secured by policemen.

The former president was transferred from the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City, where she was rushed after being prevented by the government from leaving the country last November 15.

Judge Mupas issued the warrant for Mrs. Arroyo's arrest a few hours after the Commission on Elections filed the electoral sabotage case against her on November 18. The police served the warrant of arrest at the SLMC that same day.

Mrs. Arroyo is also facing at least six plunder complaints before the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman. Malacañang had said that it is also planning to file more charges against the former president.