Doctor to testify today on GMA health condition

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 confirmed yesterday that a doctor of ailing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would testify today regarding the health condition of the accused former head of state.

Lawyer Joel Pelicano, clerk of court, said the RTC would hear the testimony of Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes to determine if Arroyo still needs to be confined in a private hospital.

Defense lawyers are seeking a five-day extension of the former president’s stay at the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City where she is being treated for a rare bone disorder and other complications.

The court appearance of Dr. Cervantes was an offshoot of the urgent motion filed by defense lawyers led by Jose Flaminiano for the extension of Arroyo’s stay in hospital.

This will be the second court appearance of Cervantes, a liver disease specialist, who has been the attending physician of Arroyo.

Cervantes and Doctors Mario Ver and Roberto Mirasol appeared in court last Friday but defense lawyers blocked their testimony after they also withdrew their motion for hospital arrest for Arroyo.

Defense lawyers argued that testimony of the doctors might violate the right of the patient’s confidentiality of her medical records.

The opposition of the defense panel to let the doctors testify prompted the prosecution panel to move for the immediate transfer of Arroyo to the detention cell at the Southern Police District (SPD) also in Taguig.

The court, however, ruled that one of the doctors must testify for initial determination of the actual health condition of Arroyo.

Dr. Ver testified that Arroyo is recovering and already fit to go home and can be treated as an outpatient.

After the testimony of Ver the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prosecution panel headed by Maria Juana Valesa filed a motion asking the court for the immediate transfer of the patient from SLMC to SPD.

RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas has already inspected the SPD detention cell and other possible detention facilities at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna St., Veterans Memorial Medical Center, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center, all in Quezon City.

Comelec filed electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo, former provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol, and former Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly rigging results in senatorial elections in Maguindanao in the 2007 polls.

The filing of information was approved by Comelec commissioners in session last Nov. 18 upon recommendation of the joint Department of Justice-Comelec panel that conducted the preliminary investigation.

The Pasay RTC issued a warrant of arrest against Arroyo that same day.

The charges against Arroyo were based on the testimony of former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who claimed that he heard the former president instruct Ampatuan to ensure the 12-0 victory of senatorial candidates of the then administration’s Team Unity alliance in Maguindanao during an event at Malacañang days before the polls.

Pampanga leaders’ appeal

Local officials and Catholic priests from Pampanga appealed yesterday for compassionate and humanitarian treatment for Arroyo and that she be placed under house arrest in her ancestral home in Lubao town.

In a manifesto, the signatories said while charges of electoral sabotage have been filed against Arroyo, they said she is “nonetheless entitled to her constitutional rights to health and well-being, as well as to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.”

The joint statement came as the Pasay RTC is deliberating on petitions from the former leader’s lawyers that she be placed under house arrest. The Comelec, however, wants her placed in the SPD detention facility.

“Considering her debilitating sickness, age and gender and stature as a former president, vice president and senator of the Philippines, and now representative of the second district of Pampanga, we believe that CGMA (Arroyo’s initials) is entitled to a compassionate and humanitarian treatment while charges against her are being heard,” the manifesto read.

“Thus, we, the undersigned people of Pampanga, equally interested in the search for truth and justice on all accusations leveled against her, hereby respectfully manifest to the Honorable Judge and prosecuting authorities our strong support for the house arrest of Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at her ancestral home in Lubao, Pampanga,” it said.

The signatories said putting Arroyo “under house arrest would contribute to her recovery from her debilitating sickness that would provide her the strength to face all the accusations leveled against her and at the same time allow her to serve her constituents.”

They also guaranteed that she will face all the charges filed against her.

The signatories include parish priests from different parishes in the province including Rev. Fr. Rodolfo de Guzman, Fr. John Cariño Fr. Rustom Tanglad, Fr. Noli Fernandez, Fr. Jess Manabat, Fr. Mark Manabat, Msgr. Joel Tubig, Fr. Simeon Pabustan Jr., Fr. Donatielo Ocampo, Fr. Manuel Sta. Maria, Fr. Alfredo David, Fr. Allan Sicat, Msgr. Aquilino Ordoñez, and Fr. Ferdinand Gopez.

The other signatories were Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan president Krizzanel Garbo, Pampanga Mayors’ League head Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, Federation of ABS president Mayor Melchor Pingol, Federation of Senior Citizens’ Association of the Philippines Region II head Linda David, as well as barangay captains of the province.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Tito Diaz of Lubao, Pampanga and several local councilors yesterday went to St. Luke’s to express their support for Arroyo.

Councilor Marlon Villeza said the residents of Pampanga still support Arroyo.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have decided to distance themselves from the case of Arroyo.

CBCP secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura said that they would not be issuing any official statement on the present predicament and issues surrounding the former president because it is a legal matter.

Outgoing CBCP president Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar yesterday presided over the CBCP Permanent Council meeting.

Also present were incoming CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other members of the 2011-2013 Permanent Council. Some 15 bishops attended the meeting.

“The Permanent Council, in a joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming members, after a careful deliberation, feels that it has no reason to issue a pastoral statement on the current issues surrounding the accusations brought against Rep. Gloria Arroyo,” said Figura.

He explained that as religious leaders — shepherds — the bishops humbly admit that purely legal matters are not within their competence. But they are happy and encouraged that government institutions that should be responding to the issues are actually moving.

“There have been difficulties encountered, but we pray for guidance that these would be resolved soon according to our law,” he said. - With Evelyn Macairan, Aie Balagtas See, Paolo Romero