Arroyo wants to attend El Shaddai leader's wedding anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of spiritual leader Mike Velarde and wife Belen on July 18 in Paranaque City.

In a motion before the anti-graft court's 1st. Division, Arroyo's lawyers said their client have been chosen by Velarde as one of the principal sponsors during the event, including former President Joseph Estrada, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

Arroyo's legal counsels also said it will ask the Police Security and Protection Group to escort her from and to the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where she is now under hospital arrest for the plunder case in connection with the alleged misuse of the P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

Velarde, a close friend and spiritual adviser of the ex-Chief Executive,  is the founder of religious group El Shaddai.

"She is willing to pay for the actual additional expenses of her police and security escorts for her said furlough, such as gasoline, food, communication, and other expenses," the motion read. 

During her trip to the wedding venue,  Arroyo will also be accompanied by four medical personnel, including  a family doctor, the motion added.

Her lawyers requested the Court that she be allowed to leave the VMMC around 2 p.m.on July 18 to travel to the wedding venue at Amvel City, San Dionisio, Paranaque.

She will be back at the VMMC around 9 p.m.on the same day, her lawyers said.