MANILA — The Regional Trial Court Branch 112 of Pasay City, the court hearing the electoral sabotage case of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ordered Thursday the transfer of the former head of state from St. Luke’s Medical Center to Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Judge Jesus Mupas gave the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of National Defense, where VMMC is under, and the administrator of the medical center five days to implement the transfer order.
Pasay City Clerk of Court Joel Pelicano said the five days will commence upon receipt of the order.
“Considering the accused is under the custody of the law and it is difficult to justify if the accused will remain in a private hospital, the court decided to transfer former President Arroyo to a government facility, particularly the VMMC,” Pelicano said.
Pelicano said the order is “without prejudice” to the Arroyo camp’s motion for a house arrest at the former President’s residence in Quezon City.
Arroyo has been staying at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, where she has been “confined” since Nov. 15. She has attempted to leave the country but was barred after Judge Mupas ordered her arrest on charges of electoral sabotage.
