Gloria Arroyo attends brother’s wake

MANILA, Philippines – Former President and current incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the wake of her brother, Arturo “Art” Dela Rosa Macapagal at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Tuesday afternoon.

Arroyo was escorted by the Philippine National Police on her way to Macapagal’s wake and her companions were supervised by the authorities. She is also not allowed to use any electronic gadgets and grant any interview to the media.

During Arroyo’s visit, Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay was also at the Heritage Park to pay respects to Macapagal. He reportedly welcomed Arroyo.

Arroyo, currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for plunder charges, was set to visit her brother on Tuesday 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. due to his ailing condition. However, Macapagal passed away ahead of her visit.

Arroyo, through her legal counsel, changed the motion and filed before the Sandiganbayan an urgent request to attend her brother’s wake for five days, starting August 11 until August 14, Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m and on the interment on August 15.

Sandiganbayan granted Arroyo’s urgent motion. However, she was allowed to leave her detention for only three days, August 11, 12, and 14.

"After deliberating on the matter, and considering the urgency of the matter, the Court resolved to partially grant the motion, and allow the accused to attend the wake today, tomorrow and Friday, August 11, 12 and 14, 2015 only from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.," Sandiganbayan First Division ruling read.

The court has yet to issue another resolution for Arroyo’s request to attend Macapagal’s burial since Arroyo’s camp has also yet to finalize the details of the burial on Wednesday or Thursday.

Arroyo’s lawyer, Laurence Arroyo, said that although his client was devastated of her brother’s demise, their camp is thankful for the court’s compassion.

Macapagal, second son of former Diosdado Macapagal, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 72 after battling stage four prostate cancer. 

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