Gloria in ICU, at risk of heart attack

 MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City following test results showing a block in her heart artery, a condition that could lead to a heart attack.

Nona Legaspi, VMMC director, said electrocardiogram (ECG) results showed "ominous" T wave inversion or a sign of ischemia. She said Arroyo complained of chest pains.

"Ischemia is not something that you take for granted. It would be better to transfer her to the ICU where she will have 24-hour monitoring," Legaspi said, adding that ECG test results of the now 65-year-old Pampanga representative in February showed normal results.

Asked what could have happened between February and now, Legaspi said "stress" is typically the main factor in any heart illness.

"The number one cause of any pathology of the heart is stress," Legaspi said.

Arroyo is scheduled to be arraigned Monday (October 15) by the Sandiganbayan for plunder for the alleged misuse of P366-million intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Asked if Arroyo would be able to attend the hearing on Monday, Legaspi said the former president's cardiologist must first give the patient a clean bill of health before being allowed out of the hospital.

"No, she has to be monitored until given a clean bill of health by the cardiologist. Binabatanyan siya, there's no need to overemphasize that the heart is a vital organ," the doctor said.

Government prosecutors have asked the Sandiganbayan to order the transfer of Arroyo to a regular jail.

Anacleto Diaz, one of the counsels of Arroyo, said that they will ask the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the Sandiganbayan's hearing of the plunder case due to lack of probable cause.

Arroyo's lawyers have also asked the Sandiganbayan First Division to defer the October 15 arraignment and asked for more time to prepare.

The former president was ordered arrested by the anti-graft court last October 4, a day after she filed her certificate of candidacy for representative of Pampanga's 2nd district.

Arroyo is also out on bail for the electoral fraud case filed against her by the Commission on Elections for her alleged involvement in the rigging of results of the 2007 senatorial elections.