Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Transfer to VMMC: I prefer taxi than chopper.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Transfer to VMMC: "I prefer taxi than chopper."

As we all know now, the transfer of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City has been delayed after the the former President's camp opted not to use a chopper but insists on traveling by land instead despite the Philippine National Police's decision to transfer Arroyo using a helicopter for security reasons.

Elena Bautista-Horn, Arroyo's spokeswoman, said the former president is afraid of riding a helicopter due to bad weather. She said the former president was involved in 2 helicopter crashes in the past.

"Kahit mag taxi na lang kami kung yun ang problema. Hindi na kailangan mag-chopper," she told reporters.

She also noted that the Arroyo camp had talked to the PNP about the transfer and there was no mention of Arroyo being airlifted.

"We don't need the fanfare. It's only about 20 kilometers away. We don't have to wait for the anti-Gloria rallyists. That is why we wanted to travel at 6 a.m. because we didn't want any people on the streets," she said.

CGMA is currently under hospital arrest due to pending electoral sabotage charges filed against her by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Judge Jesus Mupas of Pasay RTC branch 11 earlier ordered Arroyo's transfer from St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig to VMMC, saying the government must have custody of the former president.

The government has prepared the presidential suite at the VMMC for CGMA It is the same room used by former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada after he was arrested on plunder charges in 2001.

Meanwhile, Erap made light of CGMA's refusal to be airlifted from St. Luke's in Taguig to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMCC) in Quezon City, saying she might be afraid to use the second-hand helicopters sold by her husband to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as brand new.

"Siguro baka natatakot siya sa chopper dahil baka yung secondhand na chopper na pinagbili sa PNP. Itanong mo kay Secretary Robredo, baka yung secondhand chopper," Estrada told ANC's Dateline Philippines on Friday.

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