Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking to get reelected for a third term as second district representative of Pampanga, despite her poor health.
Arroyo has cervical spondylosis, a chronic condition that affects the spine. She has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City as she faces a plunder case over the alleged misuse of P366 milllion worth of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.
Despite her detention, Arroyo won in the 2013 elections.
On Thursday (October 8), lawyer Raul Lambino, senior deputy secretary general of Lakas-CMD, Arroyo’s political party, said former president’s certificate of candidacy (COC) was already being prepared.
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“Despite the fact that she cannot attend sessions or committee hearings, marami po siyang continued na fina-file na mga bills and most are important kaya napapa-approve sa committee level and on third reading even in the House,” Lambino said.
He added that he was confident that Arroyo would enjoy the continued support of her constituents.
Request for medical tests
Meanwhile, Arroyo had filed a motion before the Sandiganbayan First Division asking for permission to undergo medical tests at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.
She said her doctors advised her to undergo an electromyography and a nerve conduction velocity test after she complained of numbness in her left arm.
In her motion, Arroyo said that the VMMC does not have the facilities and equipment needed to conduct the tests.
She requested to stay at St. Luke’s from 9 a.m. on October 21 until 4 p.m. on October 22.
CNN Philippines’ AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
