Bad weather delays Arroyo's transfer

MANILA, Philippines - The bad weather in Metro Manila is delaying the transfer of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, deputy regional director for administration of the Metro Manila police, said this morning that the eight-vehicle plus four-motorcycle convoy that will transfer Mrs. Arroyo to the VMMC is already on standby.

Laurel said that the team will start the transfer as soon as the weather in Metro Manila clears.

"The convoy is ready. We are just waiting for the weather to clear," he said without confirming the route the convoy will take from St. Luke's to the VMMC.

As of this posting, it was raining heavy in Metro Manila. The rain started since last night.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms today due to a low pressure area near Palawan province.

Laurel also did not confirm which mode of transport will be used for the actual transfer of the former president.

In a press conference outside the SLMC, spokespersons of Mrs. Arroyo protested the delay in the transfer of the former president.

Elena Bautista-Horn, main spokesperson of Mrs. Arroyo, said that the Pampanga congresswoman woke up as early as 5 a.m. and was already prepared to leave her suite at the SLMC at 6 a.m.

Horn, however, said that the Philippine National Police made a sudden change in the agreed mode of transportation for the former president's transfer.

She said that in three meetings, they were told by the police that Mrs. Arroyo will be brought to the VMMC by land. She said that it was never mentioned in the meetings that the former president will flown to the state-owned hospital in Quezon City.

Horn said that they suspect that the government is deliberately delaying the transfer of the former president.

"Sana nga hindi tama ang aming hinala na baka hinihintay nila na lumabas ang mga raliyista," she said.

She added that Mrs. Arroyo was already feeling stressed with the delay.

Cab over chopper?

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said earlier said that the security team prefers to transfer Mrs. Arroyo by air due to security considerations.

Radio report said that as of 11 a.m., a helicopter was already on standby at the SLMC. The chopper is believed to be the one that will be used for the air tranfer of the former president.

"Very likely if the weather permits it will be by air. For security reasons, it's easier to manage," Robredo said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

He added that the transfer by land is only the second option, explaining that traffic along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and C5 Road are unpredictable.

"If it's not possible, we will do by land. The deadline is today," Robredo added.

The interior secretary, meanwhile, denied that the government is waiting for anti-Arroyo groups to arrive at the VMMC before leaving the SLMC.

He said that aside from traffic, the PNP is also concerned with the security of the former president as well as of those who will be included in the convoy.

Reports said that Mrs. Arroyo will be accompanied by her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, a private nurse and a doctor from the Philippine National Police. 

Horn said during the press conference that the Arroyo couple "have decided" that they will not ride the helicopter prepared by the police.

"Hindi sila lilipad in this weather," she said, adding that they would rather ride a cab to get to the VMMC.

A counsel of Mrs. Arroyo said earlier that the former president is afraid of flying in bad weather.

"The president has experienced helicopter crashes before so there is that fear in her about riding in bad weather. She has trauma especially now with the bad weather," lawyer Lawrence Arroyo said.

No delay

In a separate television interview, Malacañang spokesperson Ricky Carandang clarified that the court's deadline for the transfer of the former president is today.

"There is no delay," Carandang said, adding that the court's order can be complied with even if the transfer it made late today.

Robredo, meanwhile, said that the PNP will try to transfer Mrs. Arroyo to the VMMC before 5 p.m. today.

He added that the camp of Mrs. Arroyo should respect whatever decision the PNP will make. He insisted that the police has prepared for both modes of transportation.

Rodelio Buenviaje, sheriff of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, said that the PNP has the final say on which mode of transportation will be used for the transfer.

Buenviaje said that what important is that the court's order to transfer Mrs. Arroyo to the VMMC within the day will be implemented by the police.

"Ang masusunod diyan ang PNP. Ang order ng court na ipinapatupad ng PNP should prevail. The PNP is only acting upon the orders of the court," he explained.

The government has prepared the presidential suite at the VMMC, which Mrs. Arroyo will occupy for the whole duration of her hospital arrest.

The same suite was occupied by former President Joseph Estrada after he was arrested on plunder charges in 2001.

Police took Mrs. Arroyo into custody last month after being ordered arrested by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court based on the electoral sabotage case filed by the Commission on Elections.

Mrs. Arroyo is also facing at least six plunder complaints before the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Antis, pros meet at VMMC

Meanwhile, hundreds of loyalists of Mrs. Arroyo gathered in front of the main gate of the VMMC to express their support for the former president.

Mrs. Arroyo's provincemates from Pampanga and some Aetas converged at the entrance of the VMMC along North Avenue as early as 6 a.m.

Despite the heavy downpour this morning, Arroyo supporters, carrying placards expressed wishes of quick recovery for the ailing former President.

At around 9:30 a.m., around 100 anti-Arroyo protesters arrived at the VMMC, chanting "Jail GMA!"

Anti-riot policemen were quick to separate the two groups after several of the Arroyo supporters chanted, "Palayain si Gloria." -- Angelo L. Guterrez and Dennis Carcamo