MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, April 2, granted Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s wish to have her family visit her on her birthday on April 5 at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where she is currently detained.
The former President will be turning 67 on April 5. She earlier asked the anti-graft court to allow her family to join her on her birthday at the VMMC for three days and two nights.
Arroyo is detained at the VMMC on plunder charges for the alleged misuse of the P366 million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). She is now the second-district representative of Pampanga.
Malacanang, through Presidential Communications Office Secretary Sonny Coloma, said it would not question nor oppose the Sandiganbayan’s ruling, and wished the former president a happy birthday.
Arroyo was first arrested on November 18, 2011 following the filing of criminal charges against her for electoral fraud. She was held at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on charges of electoral sabotage but was released on bail in July 2012.
She was re-arrested while in hospital on charges of misuse of PCSO funds in October 2012.
