TRIBUNE: Poor health entitles GMA to bail - defense

The camp of former Pres and now Pamp Rep. Gloria M-Arroyo yesterday filed a supplemental motion before the First Division of the Sandiganbayan asking the anti-graft court to reconsider its decision on Arroyo's bail petition, citing her medical condition. In an eight supplemental motion. Arroyo's lawyers claimed that she is now complementing her second term as representative of her home province of Pampanga and all members of her family are residing in the country. On the matter of Arroyo's personal health, they noted that she is now 66 years old, frail and losing weight. She has also undergone three operations on her cervical spine but remains ill, requiring regular therapy.

INQUIRER: Arroyo appeals for bail anew

Arroyo, through counsels Jose B. Flaminiano, Laurence Hector B. Arroyo and Aufelene Anne P. Laxamana, submitted an eight-page supplemental motion for reconsideration to convince the anti-graft court's First Division to reverse its previous ruling denying her bail petition. They cited a 1953 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Montano vs. Ocampo that said bail may be granted even in capital offense and regardless of a finding that evidence of guilt is strong.

NAPOLES TREATED BETTER: MANILA STANDARD: JOJO ROBLES

- sources at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame suggest that Napoles does not need to post bail at all, if getting out of jail is what she really wants to do. They say that almost since the beginning of "Ma'am Jenny's" confinement in August at the PNP Special Action Forces camp, she was already being allowed to leave on a daily basis, for several hours each day. According to these sources, Napoles would leave early in the morning and return before noon using unmarked vehicles. Apparently, Napoles would perform her daily ablutions outside of the camp - most likely, I'm told, in one of her houses in the south of Metro Manila -and return to the camp bathed, coiffed and ready for the day ahead.