by RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - 1BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello II has filed a resolution asking the Sandiganbayan to grant his former boss, Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a month-long Christmas furlough from detention for health reasons.
Bello once served as Cabinet secretary to Arroyo, a former President.
"In the spirit of Christmas and out of humanitarian Christian considerations, I urge the Sandiganbayan to consider giving [the] former President, Vice-President, senator, and incumbent congressman a Christmas furlough to give her the opportunity to get psychological effect of family bonding," he said.
"If you see her, very sick si Congresswoman Arroyo and [a] furlough would help improve her health," he added.
Bello said the resolution was prompted after he saw Arroyo at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, where she is detained on a plunder charge.
"I was able to talk to her. May sakit siya. She could hardly speak to me. I would ask for a one-month [furlough]. I leave it to the Sandiganbayan," he said.
Bello said he was playing golf when he saw Arroyo from afar, presumably as she was walking in the hospital.
He said Arroyo's health seems to be deteriorating.
“By accident, I saw her. Nakita ko ang physical appearance, payat na payat. Kinukulubot na kamay at mukha. She's sick. She needs immediate medical attention," he said.
Bello made the announcement while he was in the same panel as Arroyo's critics at the Makabayan bloc. Bello and the left-wing bloc belong to the same House minority group under Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, however, rejected the idea of a furlough.
"No special treatment kung walang furlough ang lahat ng nakakakulong," Colmenares said. "Bakit bibigyan ang congresswoman ng furlough? May disagreement. Siyempre malinaw, pangit tignan kung walang intensiyon pagfurloughin lahat. No special treatment.”
Bello, however, refused to be dragged into an argument with Colmenares.
"She's sick. I'll do the same thing for all detainees. Any detainee is entitled if she so desires upon proper motion. May distinction iyan," Bello said.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, however, said Arroyo is already enjoying "special consideration."
"She has been serving detention sa hospital, and not at a detention center," he said.
The Sandiganbayan's First Division earlier denied Arroyo's petition for bail, which the former leader has now appealed.
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