Free on bail, Gloria Arroyo returns to House after a year of absence

By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News

Published July 31, 2012 4:14pm

(Updated 6:02 p.m.) Days after she was granted temporary liberty, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo returned to the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon to perform her duties as representative of the second district of Pampanga.

Mrs. Arroyo showed up during the day's session after a year of absence from House proceedings. She was still wearing a neck brace, and was being escorted by her son, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo.

The former President attended the session for only 20 minutes. Mrs. Arroyo then proceeded to a nearby lounge exclusive to members of the House.

In a brief interview with reporters before she left the Batasan Pambansa building, Mrs. Arroyo said her attendance at Tuesday’s session was only a “dry run” for next week.

The former President said she wanted to participate in the crucial vote on the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill on August 7. Mrs. Arroyo is a known critic of the measure. “That's why I’m strengthening myself today, so that I'll be sure to be here (on Tuesday),” she said. Temporary freedom

Last Wednesday, the former President was granted temporary liberty after she was allowed to post P1-million bail for a poll sabotage case she is currently facing before the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112. Mrs. Arroyo had missed sessions since July last year after she was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in her spine. She was arrested last November and was placed under hospital detention for eight months.

The former President only managed to attend 35 of the 59 session days last year, based on records from the office of the House secretary-general. This makes Mrs. Arroyo one of the top absentees in the lower chamber last year.

‘Gasping, fragile’

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, who accompanied Mrs. Arroyo during her brief comeback at the lower chamber, said the former President was “gasping” for breath while walking to the plenary hall.

“She [Mrs. Arroyo] is happy na nakarating siya kahit sandali lang. I noticed from the time she left her vehicle up to her seat, talagang humihingal,” Suarez said in a separate interview.

The opposition leader added that the former Philippine leader could not even climb the flight of stairs leading to her office on the Batasan Pambansa’s second floor.

Suarez likewise said that he thinks Mrs. Arroyo is not yet healthy enough to continue her duties as a lawmaker.

“Looking at her fragile condition, I really have my doubts whether she can participate in budget deliberations,” he said.

The ex-President underwent three operations last year at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to correct the pinched nerve in her spine. A titanium implant was placed in her neck to correct her condition. — RSJ/HS, GMA News

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