Allies: Gloria Arroyo hesitant to leave PHL despite ‘rare’ illness

Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “hesitant" to leave the country despite her new “life-threatening" illness, her allies at the House of Representative said Wednesday. Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said he observed that the former President “has lost a lot of weight" and is currently experiencing a lot of discomfort when he and fellow opposition lawmakers visited her last week. “Meron syang braces para di gumalaw ang kanyang neck…Talagang uncomfortable, parang may ina-adjust," he said at a press briefing. Despite her condition, Mrs. Arroyo is hesitant to leave the country despite prodding from her family to seek medical opinion abroad, Suarez said. “As much a possible she doesn’t want to leave, unless may magsasabi sa kanya siguro na doctor," he said.

Mrs. Arroyo is on the Immigration watch list in connection with the string of plunder charges filed against her for her alleged abuses during her nine-year rule. She underwent a series of “risky" operations two months ago to treat a pinched nerve in her neck — formally known as "multi-level cervical spondylosis radiculopathy with kyphosis"— that doctors said could lead to paralysis if not treated immediately. The former President was also hospitalized in June due to the same condition, which her doctor said was triggered by her “continuing to work countless hours despite stress." She has not attended Congress sessions since she was discharged from the hospital. Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, who was also present during the visit, said Mrs. Arroyo is having trouble walking on unleveled ground. “She cannot go up and down. Kelangan level lang nilalakaran," she said. Suarez attributed the former President’s current condition to a “newly discovered" illness. “The illness of the President is life-threatening… This is a rare illness," he said. He, however, said that he is not in a position to disclose specific details on Mrs. Arroyo’s illness. “Maybe the doctor can come out with a statement in a day or two… We really have to leave it to the decision of the doctor," Suarez said. — KBK, GMA News