Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confined at St. Luke’s

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was confined yesterday at the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Quezon City for a medical checkup due to persistent pain and numbness in her left arm and shoulder.

Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), was earlier granted a two-day furlough by the Sandiganbayan.

“For several months, she has been suffering from extreme pain in her left arm and hand and her shoulder. But lately, the pain has gotten worse and there are times she cannot move them,” Larry Gadon, lawyer for Arroyo, told reporters.

Gadon said Arroyo would undergo special medical tests that need more than a day to perform. Doctors from the VMMC will administer the tests using equipment from the SLMC. She is expected to be discharged this afternoon.

The 68-year-old Arroyo has been suffering from a degenerative bone disease afflicting her spine.

She is facing trial for plunder for alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended her trial at the Sandiganbayan for 30 days.

Earlier, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention urged the Philippine government to release Arroyo, saying her continued detention violates international law.