Gloria Arroyo on her 'blooming' looks: 'Freedom is always healthy'

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes her release from a four-year hospital detention has done wonders to her health even if she has been free for only about two months.

For her first press conference as House Deputy Speaker on Monday, Arroyo wore a bright red trench coat and had her hair set, prompting a reporter to describe her as "blooming."

In response, Arroyo said: "Freedom is always very healthy. But I don’t know exactly how I am yet until I have my checkup."

Arroyo and her husband, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, will fly to Germany on Sept. 19 for a medical consultation. She has been diagnosed with cervical spine radiculopathy and degenerative lumbar spine disease.

During her detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, she would wear a neck brace during her public appearances until she was released.

Arroyo gained her freedom in July after the Supreme Court junked her plunder case, which was filed in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

At Monday's press conference, Arroyo, who appeared to be in good mood and even posed for photos with some reporters, said she still hasn’t forgotten the time she spent in hospital detention even after the junking of her case.

When asked on her thoughts on the proposed House probe on the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during the term of Senator Leila de Lima as justice secretary, she said: "I'm very confident that due process is going to be pursued, unlike in the time when I was being persecuted."

Arroyo and her lawyers and spokespersons have repeatedly said that she was a victim of political persecution by the Aquino administration. —KBK, GMA News