Ally: Despite condition, Arroyo can hold 'lively' conversation

Despite her frail condition, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo can still hold a lively conversation with visitors to her hospital suite in Taguig City. Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua said this is even if Mrs. Arroyo still wears a brace to support her neck, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported Tuesday. Fua was one of the congressmen who visited the former Philippine leader Monday night at St. Luke's Medical Center. Other House "allies" of Mrs. Arroyo who visited her Monday night included Minority Leader Edcel Lagman and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, the report said. The report added the congressmen visited Mrs. Arroyo between 10 and 11 p.m. It quoted Fua as saying that Mrs. Arroyo wore her head support while entertaining her guests, even as he noted she did not eat during their visit. Mrs. Arroyo reportedly has anorexia or loss of appetite. Fua also said a doctor who entered the room reminded Mrs. Arroyo to lie down to ease the pressure on her back. The report likewise quoted Fua as saying that he saw several medicines that Mrs. Arroyo had to take. Mrs. Arroyo has been found to have bone mineral deficiency, hypertension, hypoparathyroidism, and bacterial infection in the large intestine. Also on Monday, Mrs. Arroyo received visits from some of her former Cabinet members, a separate dzBB report said. One of the former Cabinet members who visited the former Philippine leader was former Health and Social Welfare secretary Esperanza Cabral. Cabral was quoted in the report as saying that Mrs. Arroyo appeared very sad and depressed, although she said she was not surprised as anyone in Mrs. Arroyo's predicament would also be sad. But Cabral also defended her decision to visit Mrs. Arroyo, who she said needs the support of her former officials. Mrs. Arroyo has been staying at SLMC since Tuesday last week, when she was barred from leaving the country. She was placed under arrest Friday after a Pasay City court issued a warrant for her arrest on charges of electoral sabotage. Around 20 more cases will be filed against Mrs. Arroyo, including plunder, a non-bailable offense, Malacañang said Monday. Mrs. Arroyo’s legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, said the Pampanga legislator was “tired and depressed" over the weekend following her arrest. — KG/RSJ, GMA News