Arroyo not critical, may undergo third surgery next week

(Updated 4:02 p.m.) The third surgery on former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be conducted next week, a week earlier than what was originally scheduled, her physician said on Wednesday. At a press briefing, Arroyo's physician Juliet Cervantes said the former president is not in a critical condition but continues to take antibiotics. Arroyo underwent cervical spine surgery last July 29 at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City where titanium implants and bone substitute were used to rebuild her spine. She underwent revision surgery last Aug. 10 after doctors found out that the implants had been dislodged due to what they first thought was infection. On Wednesday, Cervantes said the problem was not an infection but Arroyo's "inherent bone problem." She said Arroyo's poor bone quality made it difficult for the screws of the implants to hold.
"We decided that the next surgery will be earlier than it was planned before. Because if you remember we said that because of the infection we have to adequately treat this and the minimum time for the surgery to take place is after three weeks. Now, since the problem is not the infection, we are moving the surgery earlier," Cervantes said. She also said they do not recommend flying Arroyo to other countries for her medical problem. The former President is named respondent in three plunder complaints filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) — one stemming from the alleged anomalous sale of the old Iloilo airport property in 2007, another from the P550-million allegedly misused welfare funds for migrant workers, and third from the P1.6 billion supposedly diverted to her campaign fund in the 2004 presidential elections. The Bureau of Immigration has already placed Arroyo on its travel watch list, meaning the former President needs to seek DOJ clearance first before leaving the country. - KBK, GMA News