A report on GMA News TV’s “News TV Live” quoted Arroyo’s legal counsel Larry Gadon as saying the Arroyo’s continued detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City has worsened her condition.
Gadon said Arroyo continuous to lose weight, and has already lost 15 pounds as she has been having difficulty eating. He said detaining Arroyo at her La Vista residence may help improve her health.
Arroyo, who has a spine disease, has been under hospital arrest at the VMMC in Quezon City since 2012 for allegedly conspiring to fraudulently divert P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds “for personal gain” from 2008 to 2010.
Earlier in March, international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin Clooney, wife of Hollywood actor George Clooney, filed a case against the Philippine government before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights over Arroyo’s continued detention.
Clooney said Arroyo’s detention can be considered a violation of human rights given her worsening health.
She also said Arroyo is a victim of political persecution, pointing out that it was only the Pampanga lawmaker who was denied bail for her plunder case while all her co-accused were granted the same privilege.
Earlier this month, 16 senators urged the Sandiganbayan to allow another government official under hospital arrest on corruption charges to be detained at home instead. They said the anti-graft court should be compassionate towards Senator Juan Ponce Enrile considering his poor health and his advanced age. — Amanda Fernandez/JDS, GMA News
