Sandigan to hear GMA request for birthday furlough

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan will hear today Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s petition asking the anti-graft court to grant her a three-day birthday furlough next month.

Jose Miguel Arroyo, who attended the hearing on the plunder case against his wife yesterday for alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds, said the former president wants to spend time with her family and constituents.

Arroyo said the former leader intends to have a medical mission in her hometown in Lubao, Pampanga.

The former President’s lawyer Modesto Ticman Jr. filed a motion asking the anti-graft court to allow her to spend her birthday in Pampanga on April 5.

 She is asking for a three-day pass that will allow her to leave her detention facility at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Despite her deteriorating health condition, Arroyo’s doctors said she can be allowed to travel to Pampanga from April 4 to 6.

Ombudsman prosecutors are expected to contest her motion in the same way that they opposed her petition for bail.

Treatment in Austria

The former first gentleman wants his wife to seek medical treatment in Austria if the anti-graft court allows her to post bail.

“It’s better to get a doctor from Austria because there are experts there on spine injuries,” Mr. Arroyo told The STAR.

The former leader had undergone three major cervical spine surgeries at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

She had been diagnosed with “Cervical Spondylotic Radiculophathy, Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease and Post Cervical Spine Decompression with Instrumentation.”

NBI execs hit PCSO report

Meanwhile, two deputy directors of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) belied receiving intelligence funds from the PCSO during the Arroyo administration.

Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, director for intelligence and special investigation services, respectively, refuted PCSO’s liquidation report submitted to the Sandiganbayan.

Esmeralda testified during yesterday’s hearing.  Lasala, on the other hand, took the witness stand on March 5. – Michael Punongbayan, Aie Balagtas See