The Start of Another Crazy Tele-Drama Day
The entire day was a day without sunshine in Metro Manila. It actually rained like cats & dogs, non-stop throughout the entire day. The Department of Education (DepEd) even had to suspend classes in the Elementray and High School levels, while I’ve also heard that the Albay governor suspended even their College levels. It was a perfect time to snuggle if you were just at home. If you were on the road, I hope you drove carefully because the roads would had been slippery and visibilty a pain because of the heavy rain.
I’m here to write about another spectacle involving former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, specifically about her transfer from the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
Everyone expected a smooth transfer from the SLMC to the VMMC, but time passed, the morning almost ending, and the media already growing weary, but still there was no sign of transfer. A convoy left the SLMC, but it was later identified by an Arroyo spokesperson as just a ruse or decoy, then Horn suddenly called for a press conference, and everything became so complicated. Arroyo was about to leave for VMMC, but stalled yet again.
Noon: “Hayaan n'yo kaming makalipad." .........Ngayon: “Huwag n'yo kaming piliting lumipad.”
Arroyo refuses airlift due to bad weather.
According to Horn, the authorities were forcing Arroyo to transfer to VMMC via chopper.
“Hindi po kami ang dahilan ng delay. They're insisting na by air. E ang usapan sa meetings, by land. There were three meetings, and no mention of transferring ex-President Arroyo by air. Iniinsist na mag-chopper ang pangulo. Kita niyo ang weather, hindi maganda.“
“Hindi komportable si Atty. Mike na sumakay sila sa chopper. Hindi ko alam bakit wala silang contingency at bakit by air lang (pwede) eh bad yung weather. Hindi ako masagot kung paano kapag hanggang gabi umuulan. Security reasons daw kaya by air. Nakadaan naman yung decoy nang maayos. We want to go by land kahit mag-taxi na kami.”
“Sana konting konsiderasyon, hindi yung naghihintay nakaupo sa wheelchair simula kanina pang 6 am. Nababalisa siya. Sinasabi na namin sa kanila 6am pa lang na kunin nyo na siya. E ayaw naman nilang kunin. Baka hinihintay nilang lumabas ang mga anti-Gloria rallyists.”
“Ang hiling namin konsiderasyon. Oo nakakalakad, nakakakain, nakakasimba, pero may sakit pa rin siya. Nag-decision na ang dating Pangulo at kanyang asawa na hindi sila lilipad in this weather.”
There's something about GMA and air transport these days. Di compatible talaga.
However, PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Bartolome denied alleged delaying tactics. He denied purposely delaying Arroyo’s transfer, and said PNP only considered her 'safety, security & comfort'.
Bartolome says PNP was surprised about the reports that Arroyo was ready by 6 a.m.
“That was never in our talks. We agreed it'd not be too early”
Bartolome also said he gave orders nixing chopper travel for GMA because of the bad weather. He said Arroyo camp knew it was an option all along, and not just a by road transfer.
DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo said:
“The air ambulance was ready since yesterday. Rental is approximately Php 100,000.”
“PNP is following its own schedule on RGMA transfer. The Plan A to fly RGMA to VMMC was scrapped by PNP itself and NOT due to Arroyo camp’s pressure.
Pasay City Clerk of court:
“Dapat sundin ng kampo ni Arroyo ang gusto ng PNP”
Question to reporters covering St. Lukes - is there an actual helicopter flying around trying to pick up GMA?
There were choppers flying around the hospital. One was at the helipad.
Malacañang also declared that it was not deliberately delaying the transfer of Arroyo to the VMMC, saying the safety of Arroyo was a primary concern.
Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) urged the Arroyo camp to remain calm and not be so dramatic about the transfer to the military-run hospital in Quezon City.
Carandang insisted that there was sufficient time to ensure safe and smooth movement of Arroyo to the VMMC as ordered by the court, adding the logistics and latest weather disturbance are being considered.
"There is no delay. The day is young and there's plenty of time to effect the transfer. I understand the former persident is comfortable in the presidential suite there. I don't think it will be a problem if she waits a little longer until the transfer is made," Carandang said over television shortly before lunch.
PNP Chief Bartolome says he scrapped air transfer as early as 10AM, & went to plan B for land transfer & scheduled it early PM.
Buenviaje: The delay was caused by the weather... She was about to board the aircraft when there was a sudden change in the weather.
When Atty. Ferdinand Topacio was interviewed, he had this to say:
“Even if the weather improves, Representative GMA still won't ride the chopper because of trauma from two previous crashes.”
When Topacio was asked if Mike Arroyo was irritated with the delay, Atty Topacio said:
“E kung ako ngang di asawa, naiirita na e. Hindi ko nga malaman kung bakit ang nangyayari eh 'walang nangyayari.’ Singulo ng buhok ni Robredo ang plano. Kung si (dating) presidente ay nababalisa, ako naman ay nababalisawsaw na sa kunsumisyon. Kaya ayun, minamasahe ni Atty Mike si GMA sa leeg para ma-relieve ang stress.”
"Lahat ng lugar may pulis na. Pati nga sa ilalim ng tulay may pulis na."
Topacio was definitely in character, cracking jokes at every opportunity!
“Mga punchline talaga ni pambansang quail egg oh! Ilaban na yan kay Boy Pick Up! LOL!”
“Sa nakikita ko kay Topacio, he’s liking the attention. Naaaliw at name-media sya. Hehehe”
“Kaya umuulan, nakalimutang mag alay ng itlog ni Topacio na inorasyunan at sinayawan ng sundance sa kalsada kaya madulas ang daan.”
“My gosh Ferdie "little drummer boy" Topacio. Yuck lang and masasabi ko.”.
Atty. Raul Lambino shares:
“Aquino Administration is moving too slowly in coordinating transfer of Rep. Gloria Arroyo to VMMC. Rep. Gloria Arroyo has been waiting for 9 hours to be transferred to VMMC. Minamaltrato na ang dating pangulo. Wag sana ipagpatuloy ang panggigipit sa kanyang (Arroyo) kalagayan. Bakit kailangan pahirapan ang Pangulong Arroyo? Bakit hindi makapag-desisyon ng tama ang gobyerno?”
Ginigipit? Minamaltrato? Parang super pampered nga sya eh as compared sa ibang mga nasasakdal.
DOJ Secretary Laila De Lima had these to say:
“CGMA has no right to demand because as a detainee, there are certain restrictions imposed on her. She is in no position to demand what time she should be transferred to VMMC.”
Atty. Lambino quickly replied by saying:
“Rep. Gloria Arroyo cannot make a demand but she can request her preferred mode of transport to VMMC.”
A lot of tweeps online have been complaining:
“Nakakalokaaaah! Sa paglipat ng ospital may nalalaman silang HOLD DEPARTURE ORDER if CHOPPER is use for TRANSFER.”
“Ang paglipat ng ibang ospital, inabot ng siyam-siyam. Yung paglipad sana ng ibang bansa, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro.”
“Ang tagal na nito, abot na sa shift natin argh"--and I was hoping paggising ko kanina nasa VMMC na si CGMA.:(“
“Paglipat pa lang, 48 years na. tamang-tama kasama paglilitis, abutin sila ng bagyong milenyo.”
“Ginising ng gutom. Anobanamanayaan?! Di pa rin tapos paglipat? Kung sa C5 may shuttle sa Market! Market!, sa Edsa may MRT papuntang SM North!”
“Horn, Do you really have to say na pwede kayo mag-taxi? anong hirit yun? former president siya. guilty or not, di proper na ipag-taxi.”
“I have a meeting at 130pm pls I don't wanna be late.pls pls the traffic jam is not helping.maybe HORN can put me in a fast cab. hehehe :)”
“Kase nga bat sa VMMC eh “Little Girl” nga, bat di sa Children’s Hospital? tsaka takot mga bata sa ingay ng chopper, gusto kase nila bump cars!”
“Baka masyadong minamadali ng PNP taposdi pa kumpleto ang kwartong lilipatan ha. May walker at crib na ba sa nursery room ng lil gurl?”
“May tantrums at di daw aalis ang little girl sa St Lukes, unless guaranteed na nasa VMMC na ang Goin' Bulilit cast as per her request.”
“Isa pa sa request ng lil girl ang 4 na bagets sa Ikaw ang Pag Ibig, eh may taping so ang pinapunta ang tagasundo sa 100 days and counting.....”
“Ganyang nagmamadali na kunwari sila at naiinip, bat di gawin hagad at mauna sa daan at pumutak ng kanyang busina si HORN?”
“Dahil bawal na wang wang, HORN ang ginagamit...”
Some tweeps were even suggesting alternative means of transportation already:
“What's the fuzz about her transfer? May MRT, Bus, o Cab.. Hay nako!”
“Maybe she wants her favorite. Ro-Ro”
“Or pwede rin, as Erap said, she'll leave via stroller”
“Modes of transport available - Private car, taxi, jeep, bus, kariton, wheelchair, walk. If you wait a little longer (because of the heavy rains), banca or swimming!
“CGMA in a float? Carosa? pwede rin, Santa Gloria with a halo.”
“Pwede din trisikad! Si Mike ang papadyak o di kaya si Elena!”
“How about Calesa for GMA? I used to take Calesa from Recto to get to Philstar when Quiapo is flooded.”
“Pwede.. may magic powers ang mga dwende.. magteteleport daw cla sir :D harry potter style. Hihi”
“Next thing GMA wil ask for is to go to Veterans via wifi or via hologram that was used in elections by GMA7 and ABS-CBN.”
“Dapat magalit at mapikon si CGMA sa gulo kung chopper or by convoy at mag decide nalang siya maglakad”
“You can reach it by caravan... I don't care how you get there. Get to Veterans..”
“Sana sa karo nalang isakay. May convoy din naman yun.”
Buti na lang, may sense of humor pa mga taga-media na nauna pa sa sikat ng araw sa St Luke's. Kung saan-saan na napunta usapan.
Former President Joseph Estrada had these to say:
“Baka natatakot sa chopper kasi yun ang 2nd hand chopper na binenta nung asawa niya sa PNP.”
Estrada cites his experience during his arrest:
"Tatlong libo ang pulis, hindi kami nagreklamo. Hindi kami tinanong kung ano ang gusto namin. Mas maganda ang pagtrato kay GMA ngayon kaysa sa akin noong ako ay inaresto.”
“If I may suggest, para walang hassle, dapat 3:30 in the morning siya nag-transfer tulad ng pagsumpa niya sa Batasan noon.”
“Kung magpupumilit siya sa pag-ayaw, that is 'resisting arrest'! Who are they to demand what transportation to use in transfer? She's an accuse, a detainee!”
Bottomline, they got NO right to choose! Or is it because of the PAID HAKOT on the ground?”
Reversal of fortune: Dati si estrada ang nakulong. Ngayon GMA. That's Philippine politics for you.
More reactions from tweeps:
“Tama bang matakot lumipad at baka ma-"put to sleep" sila?”
“Ang dahilan ayaw ng chopper ng little girl para umakyat pa sa helipad para sumakay, may "fear of height/s" daw kase.”
"Hindi pwede yun. They're under the jurisdiction of the court. They have to follow what the PNP says."
“Ipagpalagay natin "little girl" pa nga yan, sa haba at tagal ng prosesong pinagdaanan inabutan na regla at tinagusan na malamang yan.”
“Pinapalitan ng madalian ang tiles na madulas sa banyo ng VMMC, baka daw kase "they will put the little girl to slip"
“Fascinating that mode of transport of former President Arroyo is under contention. You can choose your personal chef too.”
Land Travel
Many were anticipating what would happen next, when suddenly over 20 police officers rushed to the Medical Arts building and Arroyo was out from elevator and lobby in a matter of seconds.
Tumambling-tambling ang lahat ng news TV channel reporters at cameramen para sa live coverage!!!!!! Everyone wanted to catch a piece of the action, finally the much awaited transfer!
Arroyo did not say anything to the shocked bystanders as she was leaving. She looked straight ahead and didn't show any emotions.
The Arroyo family members already boarded a coaster. And the convoy carrying CGMA has left St Luke's. Topacio confirmed that Arroyo is now on the convoy on their way to VMMC.
It was confirmed! Arroyo has left the building!
Parang dapat yata ay may announcement sa intercom similar to "Elvis has left the building".
Arroyo left St. Luke's at exactly 3:30 pm. An ambulance or a coaster was said to be carrying the former president.
I could imagine now kung ang lahat ng preso, at mga nakakulong habang may kaso, ay nakakapanood ngayon ay siguradong manghang-mangha at inggit na inggit sila sa pagtransfer kay GMA.
It would have saved us time and money had the government transferred GMA at 3:00 AM. DILG should have instead tapped logistics services for expedient, quick transfer.
We then saw live footages of Gloria's convoy as it moves along EDSA on its way to Quezon City.
No sound of "wangwang" according to reporters.
Nagpapalakpakan daw ang mga motorista sa EDSA - di dahil nakita nila ang GMA convoy, kundi dahil bumilis daw kasi ang daloy ng traffic.
While watching the transfer with the traffic, the rains, and all, my Ipod was playing “Celebration”, then “All Night Long”. Talk about musical scoring.
Nunal pa man, inulan na ng batikos. Hanggang ngayon sa paglipat-hatid, inulan pa rin buong maghapon.
The MMDA released an online advisory: We apologize for the inconvenience to all motorist,traffic build up is due to the convoy of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo being transferred from St. Luke's Global City to the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Telephone by Lady Gaga and Beyonce:
Kailangan talaga bantayan ang paglipat ni madam kasi baka itakas sya ni Horn. Parang Lady Gaga at Beyonce kasi sila sa music video na "Telephone".
CGMA Telephone Video:
Horn: "You’ve been a very bad girl, a very, very bad girl Gloria”
CGMA: "Once you killed a cow, you gatta meyk a Ben's Barjer!"
CGMA: "Hello, Hello, Garci you know I can’t hear a thing. I am in the convoy to the VMMC. I feel like I will now live in north EDSA station."
Nars sa VMMC, aagawin ang cellfone: "Ipatong ko ang cellfone, sa taas ng aparador, now you’re not gonna reach your telephone."
Tapos tatawag ang media sa Supreme Court at si Midas ang sasagot: "Stop calling, stop calling, I don’t wanna talk anymore. Ayoko nang mic mahulog sa dance floor."
Arrival at the VMMC
Anti and pro Arroyo with crowd control police gathered at the Gate 1 of VMMC. However, Arroyo’s convoy entered through Gate 2 where police have been on standby since noon.
There was a sign put up by the Bantay Gloria Network near the VMMC: "Caution: Bad Little Girl, 50 meters ahead".
Sabi ng mga may third eye, nasesense daw nila na nagtitipon rin ang maraming itim na dwende ngayon malapit sa VMMC.
Tugtog daw sa may VMMC kanina: "Katawan" by Hagibis. Pero binago ang lyrics para bumagay: "Kawatan, kawatan, kawatan... oooh... kawatan!"
Finally, nakarating at nailipat din. Akala ko kase, ang susunod na palusot nila, naabutan ng color coding.
It took less than an hour for Arroyo's convoy to travel from St. Luke's in Taguig to VMMC in Quezon City. Arroyo entered the VMMC presidential suite at 4:10pm on a wheelchair, followed by her doctors.
Buenviaje said Arroyo was now turned over to the Police Protection Security Group.
“I will not allow her to be handcuffed... I respected her office. Personally, I am relieved it is done…and I think she was also relieved.”
Bakit nga ba sa Veteran's MMC?
Kase, beterana na sa larangan ng salamangka o walking distance sa Heart, Lung at Childrens Hospital na sya?
Natuwa daw si Glorious ng malamang ang lugar katabi ng VMMC ay PAG-ASA. Ngunit nalungkot din agad ng narinig kasunod na daan ay BAGO-BANTAY.
Back at St. Luke’s, there were unconfirmed reports saying that the management was checking hospital property for possible loss and theft after GMA left the building. LOL.
Realizations:
Today is International Anti-corruption Day. Today also marks the beginning of GMA’s detention in a government hospital. There's a rhyme & reason to things, synchronicity.
Once upon a time, a little girl in the palace lived happily....until after today. Now that Arroyo is at the VMMC, expect a whole new set of multiple complaints from Arroyo, her lawyers and Bautista-Horn.
I wonder. Which hole in the veterans golf course is nearest the presidential suite? Let's place a mole in that hole.
My advise: GMA, enough drama. PNoy, enough comedy. Erap, enough cameo roles.
At dahil tapos na naman ang isang araw na punong-puno ng drama, I can now put myself back to sleep. Sinisiguro lang naman naihatid ng school bus sa kanyang classroom ang lil girl the explorer.
One last song before I sleep:
Gloria Gaynor and Gloria Estefan singing Laura Brannigan's hit, "GLORIA"!
Huling Hirit/Final Note:
“MOLAR LESSONS sa mga presidente ng pilipinas: Pagandahin ang lahat ng mga goverment hospitals coz... u neber know.”
"It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going." - Brian Tracy
CGMA: Hoy, erap. Pinalaya kita di ba?
ERAP: Trust is like a mirror, you can fix it if its broke but ahh..eh.. basta karma yan. Golf muna ako.
Trivia Naman:
70 million people in the world are having sex right now, while 39 million are planning to have sex, and another 28 million are done with it.
With that many figures, how come I’m only at home tweeting and writing on my blog?
Sh*t!
Off topic, tahimik yata si Mickey?
ReplyDeleteYung driver si Lambino...?
ReplyDeletehahaha....maybe i could edit the pic later with Lambino as the driver...for now..I'm working on the contents...organizing the details and feedbacks/reactions of tweeps online
ReplyDeleteAbout the Trivia Section, don't despair TechnoSpecs, maybe you are in category of "39 million are planning to have sex." But if not, LOL.... Love your post, witty and wholesome... wholesome daw, oh....
ReplyDelete