SC OKs Arroyo’s Christmas, New Year furloughs

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday afternoon granted detained former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s request for Christmas and New Year furloughs.

The high tribunal decided to allow Arroyo to spend time with her family during the holiday season exclusively in her home in La Vista Subdivision, Quezon City.

Arroyo is permitted to visit her home for six days, from 8 a.m. of December 23 until 5 p.m. of December 26 and from 8 a.m. of Dec. 30, 2015 up to 5 p.m. of Jan. 2, 2016 under preventive custody.

The SC was acting on Arroyo’s urgent motion for house arrest in granting her holiday furlough. However, the court has not yet decided on her house arrest plea.

The former president has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since 2012. She is detained for charges of plunder after being involved in the alleged misuse of P366-million worth of funds from state lottery firm Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during her presidential term.

Last August, Arroyo was also granted furlough by the anti-graft court following her brother, Arturo Macapagal’s death. 

In 2014, Arroyo was also given a four-day Christmas furlough by the Sandiganbayan. - with reports from Edu Punay