No house arrest but court allows Gloria Arroyo to visit grandson’s wake for six days  

In a two page resolution partially granting Mrs. Arroyo's request to be with family members during the wake of her departed grandson, the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday allowed the former Philippine leader to be with her family "for humanitarian reasons."

 

"After a thoughtful consideration of the arguments of the parties, and for humanitarian reasons, the Court partially grants the said ex-parte motion, and hereby allows the accused movant to attend the wake of her grandson at 92 Cambridge Circle, North Forbes Park, Makati City," the resolution said. 

 

Mrs. Arroyo earlier for a nine-day temporary house arrest to attend the wake of her 13-month-old grandson, Jorge Alonso "Jugo" Arroyo Bernas, who died Sunday due to a congenital heart disease.

 

But instead of the nine-day temporary house arrest, Mrs. Arroyo will be allowed to visit Jugo's wake from 12 noon to 10 p.m. from November 4-9, the Sandiganbayan said. 

 

Mrs. Arroyo will then be allowed to attend her grandson's burial on November 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 pm. 

Restrictions

 

The court also set particular restrictions for Mrs. Arroyo's attendance to the wake, instructing the Philippine National Police to provide "adequate personal escorts and security measures in all movements and dispositions of accused Arroyo."

 

Mrs. Arroyo should also be returned directly to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City immediately after 10 p.m. The former leader will shoulder all expenses incurred by the VMMC and the PNP during her transfer. 

 

Likewise, the anti graft-court limited Mrs. Arroyo's use of gadgets whenever she is out of detention. 

 

"The use of any means of communications and electronics (including phones, cell phones, or the internet) by accused Arroyo and those who will accompany her shall be under the control and supervision of the detailed PNP security," the decision said. 

 

The court also forbid the Pampanga lawmaker from giving media interviews during her attendance to the wake. 

 

Mrs. Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the VMMC since 2012 for allegedly conspiring to fraudulently divert P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds "for personal gain" from 2008 to 2010. — RSJ, GMA News