Gloria Arroyo leaves VMMC

After four years of hospital arrest, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Lia Mañalac Del Castillo reported on "24 Oras."

Arroyo was released from hospital detention early Thursday evening, some two days after the Supreme Court dismissed her plunder case due to insufficient evidence.

It was around 2 p.m. when Arroyo learned that the SC has handed down copies of its decision for the Sandiganbayan First Division to order her release from detention.

The First Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan earlier Thursday issued a minute resolution directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately free the former President from her hospital detention.

The anti-graft court’s issuance reiterated the SC ruling dismissing the plunder case against Mrs. Arroyo which has been pending with the Sandiganbayan First Division since 2012.

“The Court notes the Supreme Court Decision in (Arroyo vs. People and Sandiganbayan) and (Aguas vs Sandiganbayan)," the First Division's resolution read.

"In view thereof, accused Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aguas are hereby ordered released from detention immediately, unless they are being held in custody for other reasons not related to this case,” it added.

The resolution was signed by First Division chairman Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz, sitting members Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg.

Also ordered immediately released from detention was Arroyo's co-accused, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas.

Aguas is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The First Division issued the resolution shortly after a process server from SC arrived at the Sandiganbayan Thursday afternoon to furnish the anti-graft court with a copy of the high court’s promulgated decision.

The tribunal directed the Sheriff and Security Services Office to deliver copies of the resolution to the VMMC, the PNP national headquarters, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNOP-CIDG), the PNP Police Security Protection Group (PNP-PSPG) who has the custody of Mrs. Arroyo and the PNP Custodial Center who has the custody of Aguas. —KBK/NB, GMA News