GMA wants to attend wake and burial of elder brother, files motion before Sandigan

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Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has filed an ex-parte urgent motion before the Sandiganbayan asking for permission to attend the wake and burial of her elder brother.

She asked the anti-graft court to allow her to attend the Mass for her brother, Arturo Macapagal, 72, at the Heritage Park in Taguig City at 2 p.m. and to stay there until 10 p.m. Tuesday. The body of her brother is scheduled for cremation at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The First Division earlier granted a five-hour furlough to the former president to visit her dying half-brother, who had been battling prostate cancer at the Makati Medical Center. The visit was scheduled for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., but it was overtaken by events when her brother died at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday.

“(Former) President Arroyo further respectfully prays that she also be allowed to attend the wake of her brother tomorrow (August 12) until Friday (August 14) from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and his burial on 15 August 2015 (Saturday),” the motion read.

The motion said Mrs. Arroyo will comply with the anti-graft court’s conditions if her petition would be granted.

The deceased Arturo Macapagal was the son of the late President Diosdado Macapagal from his first wife, Purita dela Rosa. He was the eldest of the four Macapagal siblings. He and Cielo Macapagal were half-siblings of Mrs. Arroyo and Diosdado Macapagal Jr.

Mrs. Arroyo and Diosdado Jr are the late President Macapagal’s children with former First Lady Evangelina Macapagal.

Mrs. Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds during her presidency.(PNA)

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