Arroyo seeks seven-day medical, wellness leave abroad

Former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked Speaker Martin Romualdez to grant her a seven-day medical and wellness leave abroad.

A statement from her office said Arroyo wants the seven-day medical and wellness leave to cover session days, meaning Mondays to Wednesdays every week. These dates will cover July 27 to August 10.

"She will travel to France and Singapore. She intends, however, to join the sessions of Congress via Zoom while she is out of the country," the statement read.

"She has been certified by her personal physician as no longer infectious, but she could not attend the SONA (State of the Nation Address) because the President’s presence required a negative [RT-] PCR test for all attending the SONA, whereas she tested positive on [RT-]PCR  [for COVID-19] two days before the SONA," it added.

It was in reference to Arroyo skipping the first SONA of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. last July 25.

While she was not there physically, Arroyo participated in the opening of the First Regular Session in the morning virtually and voted for Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez for House Speaker.

Arroyo also served as Speaker from July 2018 to June 2019 and was named Senior Deputy Speaker last Monday, July 25. — RSJ, GMA News