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Militant groups picketed the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City Friday to protest what they called the extension of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's stay there.

 

The militants brought placards calling for accountability from Arroyo, who has been under hospital arrest at the VMMC since December, radio dzBB reported.

 

Security personnel quickly closed the VMMC's main gate and prevented the militants from getting into the hospital premises, the report said.

 

Police also kept watch over the hospital to prevent attempts by the protesters to sneak in.

 

"No to special treatment! No to Malacanang's extension of GMA hospital arrest! Jail GMA!" tweeted Vencer Crisostomo of the Kabataan party-list.

 

Arroyo was first placed under hospital arrest last Nov. 18 while she was staying at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City, after a Pasay court ordered her arrest on charges of electoral sabotage.

 

The former leader, now a congresswoman representing Pampanga's second legislative district, was transferred to the VMMC from the SLMC last Dec. 9.

 

Her camp had claimed she needs to stay at the hospital because she still needs therapy.

 

On Feb. 9, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 allowed Arroyo to stay longer at VMMC to further recuperate from her bone mineral disorder. –KG, GMA News