Arroyo surgery expected this week, says spokesperson

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may undergo the spine surgery needed to prevent her possible paralysis within the week, her spokesperson said in a television interview on Wednesday. "Wala pang definite date pero (There's no definite date yet but) we're expecting it within this week," former Quezon City Rep. and Arroyo spokesperson Maite Defensor said in an interview aired over GMA Network's Unang Balita.
On late Monday afternoon, Mrs. Arroyo was rushed to the hospital after making the rounds of barangays in Pampanga. The former Philippine leader is now representing the province's second district in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Mrs. Arroyo's doctors said she needs to undergo a "risky surgery" for a pinched nerve in her spine to prevent a possible paralysis. Doctors warned that the surgery to be conducted on Mrs. Arroyo was "risky" because it involved "very sensitive nerves" in the spinal chord that are responsible for the movement of the upper extremities like hands and arms, as well as respiratory muscles. Defensor said the doctors are completing their tests on Mrs. Arroyo to determine when the surgery can be conducted. "Kahapon naman po nakapagpahinga siya nang mabuti (Yesterday she managed to rest properly)," she said. The spokesperson said that after the surgery, the former President might need around five to 10 days to recover so she'll have to stay in the hospital for one to two weeks. A few hours before news about Mrs. Arroyo's surgery was announced, a fifth plunder charge was filed against her for the alleged misuse of P325-million funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Defensor, however, said Mrs. Arroyo doesn't know about the complaint yet. "Pinagpahinga ho namin siya hindi na niya narinig yun (We asked her to rest so she never got wind of the news)," she said. "Siguro hindi na muna masyado kasi nakakastress din yun (We probably won't tell her right away, the news is too stressful)," she added. But she thanked the Aquino administration for wishing the former President well. "Narinig ko na at maraming salamat sa Palasyo... siguro mag-rerequest na lang ho kami ng dasal galing sa mga kaibigan at taongbayan (We heard and we thank the Palace. We would also like to ask the public and her other friends to pray for her)," she said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News