Gloria Arroyo arrives home for six-day holiday furlough

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left her hospital detention on Wednesday morning for a six-day, court-granted holiday furlough, a report on "News To Go" said.

Arroyo left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), where she has been on hospital arrest since 2012, about 8 a.m. and was brought to her home in La Vista, Quezon City, according to the report by GMA News' Bernadette Reyes.

Former Candaba, Pampanga, mayor Jerry Pelayo, an Arroyo ally, told News To Go that the former Philippine leader immediately checked on the condition of her plants and the family Christmas tree upon returning home.

The report said Arroyo was escorted home by former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, their children and grandchildren. Members of her former Cabinet are expected to visit her during her holiday leave.

The Supreme Court has allowed Arroyo to stay at her residence from 8 a.m. of December 23 until 5 p.m. of December 26, and from 8 a.m. of December 30 until 5 p.m. of January 2, 2016.

The furlough was granted in connection with her urgent motion for house arrest, pending resolution of her bail petition against the Sandiganbayan First Division, which is hearing a plunder case against her over the alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds during her term as president. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News