Imelda Romualdez Marcos visits Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at hospital detention

Former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos visited former president and current Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center  on Wednesday.

 

The former First Lady said the visit was a bonding experience and a social call. 

 

Marcos said on GMA News TV's "24 Oras" newscast Wednesday that the visit was to show her sympathy for Arroyo, who was banned from seeking help for her medical problems in the United States.

 

"I was very sad. So cruel. She was in a good mood but she's not well," said Marcos.

 

She recalled how her husband, former President Ferdinand Marcos, gave current President Benigno Aquino III's father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., leave to go to the US.

 

Only two nurses, her chief of staff, security aides, and Lauro Vizconde witnessed Marcos' visit.

 

Vizconde has paid visit to Arroyo five times since her confinement in VMMC.

 

Marcos is the third prominent political figure to visit Arroyo, the previous two being former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

Speculations about a political alliance among the three presidents, whom critics said may be planning to support a common candidate in the 2016 president elections. Estrada quickly denied the claims, saying they never talked of such a thing in their meetings.

 

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Arroyo's lawyer, said speculations like these were not uncommon and could not be avoided.

 

"Hindi pwedeng mawalan ng political dimension... It was very light-hearted. They reminisced about good old days na ang politika, walang personalan. Si Mrs. Arroyo ay masaya sa bisita ng isang kasamahan sa kongreso," said Topacio.  — RT/ELR, GMA News