Arroyo leaves hospital, goes straight to QC house

One week after undergoing surgery to correct a condition involving a pinched nerve in her spine, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was allowed to go home Friday. Mrs. Arroyo left the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City Friday morning, radio dzBB's Rodil Vega quoted the former Philippine leader's legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, as saying. "Papunta na sa La Vista (She is heading for her house in La Vista, Quezon City)," Lambino said. The dzBB report said Lambino earlier gave the thumbs-up sign indicating that Mrs. Arroyo was allowed to go home.

Mrs. Arroyo underwent surgery at the hospital last July 29 after doctors found a pinched nerve in her spine. Doctors ordered Mrs. Arroyo to rest for at least one month, and limited visits to her. Facing the media Friday morning, Mrs. Arroyo's physician, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, said her team is advising Mrs. Arroyo to also take complete voice rest. "The operation was successful. But right now, she has a hoarse voice. Her voice was intact until we allowed her to talk, her voice became worse. Her vocal chords were swollen and until now are swollen not because of complications of surgery but because of frequent use of cellular phone," Cervantes said. "This month she has to rest. Please limit the visitors. Just let her voice rest for one month," Cervantes, added. — LBG, GMA News