GMA cuts short Asean summit trip

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has cut short her trip to Hanoi, Vietnam for the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, fuelling speculations over the health of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who was just discharged from St. Luke’s Medical Center on Wednesday.

The President is expected to return to the country at 2 a.m. today, 17 hours ahead of her previously set schedule.

Reports coming from Hanoi said Mrs. Arroyo was overheard saying that she wanted to return to Manila shortly after arriving at the Noi Bai Airport yesterday afternoon.

She held her scheduled bilateral meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Mod Najib Tun Razak and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the sidelines of the summit.

After the meetings, she attended the leaders’ summit at the National Convention Center. She also attended a state dinner for the ASEAN heads of state.

“He’s fine when I left,” the President said when asked about the First Gentleman’s health.

Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, part of the delegation, said the President might want to be with her husband.