Arroyo sons arrive at hospital hours before surgery

The two sons of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo went to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City before dawn Friday to keep watch over her hours before the former Philippine leader's spine surgery. Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo arrived at the hospital before 1 a.m. while Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo arrived before 5 a.m., radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported. But the report said the two were not allowed to get near Mrs. Arroyo as she had to remain "sterilized" to prevent infection before the surgery. An earlier dzBB report said Mrs. Arroyo's husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, kept watch over her Wednesday night. The dzBB report said the operation was scheduled at 7 a.m. and was expected to take at least five hours. Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo's doctors had advised her to stay relaxed and stress-free for her surgery. Mrs. Arroyo was rushed to the St. Luke's Medical City in Taguig City Monday where doctors found she had a pinched nerve in her spine. Meanwhile, a senior Catholic Church official asked the faithful to offer prayers for the recovery of Mrs. Arroyo. Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. said he is personally praying for the speedy recovery of Mrs. Arroyo. "We pray for Congresswoman Arroyo," Iñiguez said in an article posted Wednesday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. Iñiguez heads the CBCP's public affairs unit. — RSJ, GMA News