Arroyo seeks 5-day furlough to attend brother's wake

MANILA, Philippines - Former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to visit the wake of her brother.

Arroyo's elder brother, Arturo “Art” dela Rosa Macapagal, died of prostate cancer on Tuesday morning.

Last Monday, the court approved Arroyo's request to visit her ailing brother from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday but Macapagal passed away at 6:40 a.m.

The former president revised her furlough request and asked the court to allow her to leave the Veterans Memorial Medical Center at 1 p.m. to attend the mass at 2 p.m.

According to Arroyo's petition, the remains of her brother will be brought to the Heritage Park in Taguig City this afternoon, where the mass will be held. She asked to be allowed to stay until 10 p.m.

Arroyo has also asked the court to allow her to leave detention from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday until Friday for the wake of her brother and on Saturday for his burial.

The former president is under hospital arrest for plunder charges in connection to the alleged misuse of the funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during her term as president.