Anti-Arroyo protest causes tension near VMMC

A protest by some 70 members of a militant migrant workers' group on Friday caused tension near a government hospital where former President Gloria Arroyo is being detained.   The 70 protesters, all members of migrant workers' group Migrante, opposed what they considered "special treatment" for Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), radio dzBB reported.   But police were quick to react, closing the VMMC's gates and having anti-riot teams block the protesters from entering the hospital premises.   After negotiations, the police convinced the protesters to allow other patients to get in or out of the VMMC.   While calling to have Arroyo placed in a police detention facility,  the protesters also called for support for their "zero remittance day" on Sunday to protest the "special treatment" for Arroyo.   Arroyo was transferred to the VMMC from the St. Luke's Medical Center last week. She stayed at SLMC since Nov. 15 when she was barred from leaving the country.   Last Nov. 18, she was placed under arrest on charges of electoral sabotage. Pasay Judge Jesus Mupas, who is handling the electoral sabotage case, ordered Arroyo moved to the VMMC.   On Friday, Arroyo’s lawyer Jose Flaminiano said the Pasay City court allowed Arroyo to leave her suite at the VMMC but only to soak in some sunshine and to attend Mass at the VMMC chapel. — LBG, GMA News