Lawyer says Gloria Arroyo in high spirits but health 'still the same'

A lawyer for former President and re-elected Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday said the dismissal of her plunder case has lifted her spirits but her poor health remains the same.

"I guess she's in higher spirits now. Mas masaya. Pero 'yung kalusugan niya, ganu'n pa rin. 'Di pa rin nagbabago 'yung kalusugan niyan," said lawyer Lawrence Arroyo in an interview on News To Go.

Atty. Arroyo was responding to reactions to fresh clips and photos of Arroyo showing her without her neck brace, which she began wearing in 2011 due to a pinched nerve. The clips and photos were taken Tuesday, the same day the Supreme Court dismissed her plunder case.

The clips and photos show a happy-looking Arroyo entertaining guests, including her family, former Cabinet appointees, and legal counsel, in her room at the Veterans Medical Memorial Center where she has been on hospital arrest since 2012. Her lawyer, Raul Lambino, even took a selfie with her. 

Arroyo's camp had earlier said her doctors have allowed her to occasionally remove the brace to allow her to move her neck and keep her muscles from weakening. 

Atty. Arroyo said the former president does take this brace off and puts it back on when she has to go for a long walk.

"'Yung neck brace na 'yan, palaging nagiging issue 'yun. But in the four years that I've been meeting with her while she's on detention, 'yung neck brace comes and goes. Tinatanggal niya talaga 'yan," he said.

He added: "There are instances when she had to move around, saka niya nilalagay. Kung naglalakad siya nang malayo, naglalakad within the Veterans vicinity, nilalagay niya 'yan."

Atty. Arroyo said Arroyo intends to see her doctors immediately after her release, which is expected Wednesday. "Ang pagkakaalam ko, ang isa sa mga unang gagawin niya paglabas ng Veterans is to consult with doctors, even doctors abroad." — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News