HOSPITAL TRANSFER TAKES 9 HOURS

by Manila Times

The convoy carrying former President Gloria Arroyoarrives at the Veterans Memorial Medical Centerin Quezon City (Metro Manila) on Friday afternoon. 

AFTER waiting for about nine hours, former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga province was transferred from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City (Metro Manila) to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City (also in Metro Manila) on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, former President President Joseph Estrada said also on Friday that Mrs. Arroyo is being “spoiled” by the Aquino administration.

Mrs. Arroyo left St. Luke’s before 3:30 p.m. 

Footage taken by ABS-CBN showed police wheeling the former president to a waiting coaster that was heavily tinted at the hospital’s main entrance.

The original plan was to transfer the former leader by helicopter but this was scrapped upon request of the Arroyo camp, citing bad weather.

Mrs. Arroyo was accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, son Rep. Diosdado Arroyo of Camarines Sur province and spokesman Elena Bautista-Horn, when she was transferred to the coaster.

The convoy carrying Mrs. Arroyo passed Edsa and entered VMMC through the Mindanao Avenue gate at around 4:15 p.m. 

A 6x6 truck carrying anti-riot police tailed the convoy.

Sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje of the Pasay City (also in Metro Manila) Regional Trial Court said that the former leader looked fine after she was brought to the presidential suite at VMMC. 

“She’s wearing her neck brace,” he added. Buenviaje said that Mrs. Arroyo was not handcuffed on her way to the hospital. 

“Definitely, I will not allow her to be handcuffed. I respected her office,” he explained. 

At least 300 policemen were deployed to provide security for Mrs. Arroyo at VMMC. 

The former leader’s visitors will have to pass through four checkpoints to see her. 

Security at Gate 2 of VMMC was tight and even members of the media were barred from entering the hospital.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) agreed to transfer the former leader by land because of bad weather.

Horn and Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, had frowned at the plan of using a helicopter to transfer the former leader to VMMC, since the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) did not advise them about that.

“There is no advice . . . na ganun pala ang plano ng pag-transfer [that that was the plan to transfer Mrs. Arroyo]. The former president will not agree to that plan.” Horn said during a press conference.

She added that the former leader refused to be flown by helicopter because of the bad weather.

Malacañang also on Friday dismissed accusations from the Arroyo camp that the government delayed the transfer of the former leader to VMMC.

Deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said that the PNP was just waiting for Friday’s rains to stop to avoid inconveniences for Mrs. Arroyo.

“The PNP will decide which mode of transfer will be most convenient and secure,” Valte told a press briefing. 

“[DILG] Secretary Jesse Robredo is on top of the situation. He will make sure that the former president will be safe and being taken care of,” she said.

Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said that Malacañang turned down the Arroyo camp’s proposal that they take a taxi to head to the VMMC since the former leader has been waiting to be transferred since 6 a.m. of Friday.

In accusing the Aquino administration of spoiling Mrs. Arroyo, Estrada said that if the situation of the woman who succeeded him in Malacañang is to be compared with his when he was arrested during the past administration for plunder charges, her successor is enjoying special treatment from the Aquino administration.

He cited the government’s move to renovate the presidential suite at VMMC before Mrs. Arroyo was transferred there.

“My room at the Veterans had old furniture, there were cockroaches and rats, but now it was renovated and the furniture is brand-new,” Estrada said during an interview with GMA News.

He also cited the huge difference in the manner they were arrested.

Estrada said that his arrest was an overkill because more than 3,000 policemen served the warrant of arrest against him and escorted him to VMMC.

He added that he was never given special treatment during the Arroyo administration when he was prosecuted for plunder and corruption before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

http://manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/editorials/12933-hospital-transfer-takes-9-hours