GMA allowed to spend Christmas, New Year with family

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s family was allowed yesterday to spend Christmas and New Year with her at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). 

The Sandiganbayan granted Arroyo’s request for her family to stay at VMMC beyond visiting hours in the spirit of the holiday season and in consideration of her health.

Arroyo’s family will stay at the VMMC in Quezon City on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as Jan. 31, New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day.

Without any objection from the Office of the Ombudsman, the anti-graft court’s First Division also granted Arroyo’s urgent motion to relax the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG)’s rules for visitors to leave by 9:30 p.m. Arroyo’s grandchildren are on the list of relatives submitted to the anti-graft court to be allowed to stay with her at the VMMC. 

Erap to visit GMA

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will visit Arroyo, now a Pampanga congresswoman, at the VMMC at around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The former president said he wished Arroyo would recover fast from her illness.            

“I’m wishing her all the best this Christmas season,” he said. 

Estrada was also detained at the VMMC while   undergoing trial for plunder.

Arroyo also visited Estrada when he was detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Arroyo granted Estrada pardon in October 2007. 

Malacañang welcomed yesterday the Sandiganbayan decision allowing Arroyo’s family to spend Christmas and New Year with her.

Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace wishes Arroyo peace and goodwill this season. 

“We all hope for peace and goodwill to reign during this time,” he said. 

Meanwhile, police have limited Arroyo to hearing mass inside her suite at the VMMC. Superintendent Wilben Mayor, Philippine National Police spokesman, said if Arroyo wishes to attend the daily morning mass at the VMMC chapel, she must get the Sandiganbayan’s approval.

“Under the rules of PSPG, she can only attend mass in the presidential suite as provided for in the amended close-in security protocol relative to the hospital arrest,” he said. – Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe