GMA Cabinet can’t convince her to lighten workload

Cabinet members admit having a hard time persuading the workaholic President Arroyo to slow down and reduce her work load as recommended by her doctors at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

The President was hospitalized last week due to acute intestinal infection triggered by too much stress.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to immediately schedule a cabinet meeting hours after she was discharged from St. Luke’s in Quezon City last Saturday.

Defensor said the president wanted to get down to work to make up for lost time.

Mrs. Arroyo even confronted him why he canceled all her meetings for the day, a few hours after she signed the bill abolishing the death penalty.

"So I have to personally talk to the President to explain to her that (cancellation of engagements) was the recommendation of her doctors," said Defensor shortly after seeing Mrs. Arroyo off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for a seven-day official trip to Italy, the Vatican and Spain.

"Initially she was insistent to continue with her canceled meeting but said her doctors want her to rest and slow down," Defensor said.

However, the President ignored her doctors’ advice and called for a meeting with Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo about "some concerns," he said.

Defensor said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to meet with officials of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and other concerned agencies over the imminent eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon and the typhoon Domeng all on that Saturday afternoon.

In the morning, the President already attended two engagements, he said.

To stop her from holding the meeting, Defensor suggested to the President that it would be good if she just gave instructions to the NDCC regarding the typhoon and possible eruption of Mt. Bulusan and put these in her departure message.

Mrs. Arroyo apparently agreed to his suggestion.

Defensor was therefore surprised when he received a call late Saturday night from Mrs. Arroyo who told him she wants to push through with the canceled meetings.

Defensor reminded her that she and the rest of the official party have to take off at 10 a.m. and her doctors have recommended that she have a full night’s rest.

"So again, I tried to explain to the President if she wants to give mere instructions and she said, ‘no I want to get the actual situation if the typhoon will hit Bicol,’" Defensor said.

On the day she was confined for acute viral intestinal infection, Cabinet officials led by Defensor, Presidential Management Staff head Secretary Arthur Yap and Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they would gang up on Mrs. Arroyo and force her to slow down in running the affairs of the government.

They were concerned that her work ethic is taking a toll on her health and theirs as well.

They said the President’s habit of squeezing in so many appointments is also creating security nightmares for the Presidential Security Group.

Defensor said her schedule must be "rationalized."

"A little streamlining, I would call it. She must be more selective in her meetings," Duque said.

However, even while in the hospital, the President was seen working on her laptop while sitting on her bed when some reporters were allowed to see her in her suite for a few minutes.

Defensor said Mrs. Arroyo had ignored their pleas for her to slow down in the past.