Ailing GMA misses golf, laptop, cell phone

Manila, Philippines -  Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sorely missing playing golf and using her laptop computer and texting on her mobile phone, her legal spokesman said.

Lawyer Raul Lambino said even if the golf course is close to her suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City where she is detained on charges of electoral sabotage since December, Arroyo could only watch other golfers.

As a detainee, the former president is not allowed to play her favorite sport or use her laptop and mobile phone as well as other communication equipment.

Arroyo remains afflicted with a degenerative disease spreading through her spine.

Her lawyers have been petitioning the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) to allow her to post bail for her temporary liberty pending the trial of the case filed against her.

Some of her allies have been appealing to the court to allow her to seek medical treatment abroad.

“I know she wants to play golf. I know she feels disappointed in not being allowed to play,” Lambino, who regularly plays golf at the VMMC, said.

He said he visited Arroyo while he was putting recently.

“The last time was last month, I was in Hole Number 5. I saw her walking with her police guards to get sun and she was looking at me,” Lambino said.

He said he joined Arroyo in her morning walk and had a brief chat with her.

Lambino said she keeps herself busy writing her memoirs with a typewriter or by longhand.

He said the memoirs, which is about her nine-year stay at the Palace, is already half done.

“She also constantly monitors everything that’s happening in the House of Representatives like filing bills and resolutions,” Lambino said. – With Reinir Padua