DETAINED former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received an early birthday gift from the Supreme Court after it promptly granted her plea for a birthday furlough next month.
In an en banc resolution, the SC resolved to allow Mrs. Arroyo to celebrate her 69th birthday with her family in their residence in La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City on April 5.
However, the SC only gave Arroyo three days from April 4 to 6 instead of the five-day furlough she had initially sought.
The former leader is being held under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Qurzon City while standing trial for her remaining case in Sandiganbayan involving the alleged P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund anomaly.
Last December, the SC granted Arroyo relief when it approved her plea for a holiday furlough and allowed her to spend Christmas and New Year with her family in their Quezon City residence.
Last week, the SC has extended for the second time its order suspending the trial of Mrs. Arroyo.
The tribunal extended for 60 days, or until April 20, its status quo ante order halting the proceedings before the first division of the anti-graft court on the PCSO case.
Arroyo filed a petition with the high court in April 2014 seeking reversal of the final ruling of the Sandiganbayan first division in February 2014 denying her bail motion. The office of the solicitor general has not yet answered the petition.
In October last year, the former leader reiterated her plea and asked the tribunal to now rule on her case as she cited the recent report from the United Nations Technical Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said recommending her release from detention.
The UN panel has recommended the reconsideration of Mrs. Arroyo’s application for bail “in accordance with the relevant international human rights standards.”