Arroyo camp refuses air transfer, complains about delay

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's camp complained this morning about the government insistence on the former president's "air transfer" despite the rains.

In a press conference at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Makati, Arroyo spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said the former president has been ready for her transfer since this morning.

However, both Arroyo’s camp and administration officials charged with securing her transfer could not agree with how Mrs. Arroyo would be transported to the government-run Veteran's Memorial Medical Center (VMCC).

Bautista-Horn said the government had been insisting flying her out for "security reasons."

Arroyo's camp, meanwhile, said they were willing to travel by land to the VMMC, where Arroyo will be placed under house arrest. VMMC is located in Quezon City, around 10 kilometers from Makati.

"Gusto po namin sumunod sa korte na dapat i-transfer ang Pangulo sa Veterans," Bautista-Horn said in the televised press conference.

The spokesperson said they would not allow Arroyo to fly out "in this kind of weather."

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, however, said that the Arroyo camp agreed to do the air transfer, but due to the rains, the delay happened.

Robredo said it is the Philippine National Police who will dictate the terms of the transfer, and not the Arroyo camp.

Robredo said that police is now planning alternative ways to securely transfer the former President.