GMA sets up remote office at St. Luke's

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has set up a remote office at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City while keeping watch over her ailing husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said Mrs. Arroyo, just like she did in the past, has not stopped working though she has canceled her appointments and other public engagements in the past three days to be with her husband.

Saludo said Mrs. Arroyo constantly keeps in touch with Cabinet members and other officials.

“She is working over there (in the hospital) and of course, with the use of modern telecommunications equipment, she can always call the officials that she needs to talk to,” he said.

Saludo said he knows the President has called up Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. and Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza while she was at the hospital.

“The President will continue to focus on her responsibilities,” he said.

The First Gentleman was brought to the hospital last Thursday after complaining of back pains.

Doctors revealed Mr. Arroyo has developed a new tear in his aorta near the area that was surgically repaired in 2007.

After a day of confinement, Mr. Arroyo’s doctors said his condition has improved as far as the back pains are concerned.

In the last medical bulletin issued on Friday, attending physician Juliet Gopez-Cervantes said Mr. Arroyo’s blood pressure had gone down and stabilized.

Cervantes said Mr. Arroyo has been placed on a progressive diet and is undergoing bedside rehabilitation, or some form of exercises in bed.

“While his (Mr. Arroyo) overall condition is remarkably improved, we still have to closely monitor him as he could still encounter some possible complications of his re-dissection of thoracic aorta,” Cervantes said.

No new updates were given yesterday and according to hospital officials, there was no information as to when the next medical bulletin would be issued. – Marvin Sy