GMA may transfer from VMMC to Makati Medical Center

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be transferred from the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) tomorrow, following a choking episode on Thursday, her husband said yesterday.

Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo said his 65-year-old wife told him that she already made arrangements to be transferred to the MMC next week, if possible by tomorrow where there are more advanced medical facilities.

Arroyo was placed on an IV drip and was being prodded by attending physicians at the VMMC to eat due to her very low weight.

“She’s (Arroyo) not been eating and I don’t know what to do anymore,” Mike said, adding she was also becoming impatient and restless because doctors prescribed complete bed rest for her for the next few days.

“She wants to use her laptop but the doctors advised against it,” he said in a telephone interview.

Arroyo was rushed to the VMMC, where she was detained for the last eight months on charges of electoral sabotage, after she choked on a piece of melon.

She was brought to the hospital due to acute cervical and lumbar pain.

The former leader underwent three surgeries in July and August last year to cure a degenerative disease afflicting her neck bones.

However, the titanium implants on her neck became dislodged and has not been repaired. Because of her condition, Arroyo could take only soft food and continues to be at risk of choking, her spokesperson, Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, earlier told reporters.

Doctors at VMMC have been recommending that she undergo surgery again to fix the implants.

However, Arroyo said last week that she was not yet emotionally and physically ready to undergo another risky operation.

Mike said his wife became very fatigued after going to so many places, including her parents’ grave at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and her district in Pampanga, shortly after she was released on bail by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court last July 25.

VMMC director Nona Legaspi said yesterday they still do not know until when the former Pampanga lawmaker has to stay in the hospital.

Legaspi reiterated the former president had been advised to rest when she was released from the hospital.

The VMMC director added Arroyo should limit her movement for about a year as the physical therapy sessions she undergoes would manifest their effect in a year’s time. – With Reinir Padua