A Philippine court on Wednesday rejected detained former president Gloria Arroyo's request to spend Christmas at home or use her mobile phone and computer in the hospital where she is being held.
The 64-year-old Arroyo, who says she is suffering from a rare spinal illness, is expected to be tried as early as next month on charges of rigging the 2007 senatorial elections.
She was arrested in her hospital bed at a private Manila hospital last month and held without bail, but the court later ordered her to be moved to the government-run military hospital.
"They (Arroyo's family) are allowed to spend Christmas at the (hospital) from December 24 to 26 and from December 31 to January 2," court clerk Joel Pelicano said.
But Arroyo won other concessions from the court, including an hour's walk on the hospital grounds and a visit to the hospital chapel every day.
"We respect the decision of the court if that is (the judge's) decision," said Ferdinand Topacio, a member of Arroyo's legal team.
President Benigno Aquino, who was elected to replace Arroyo in 2009, has accused his predecessor of election sabotage and of massive corruption during her term from 2001 to 2010.
He blocked a Supreme Court order to let Arroyo travel abroad for medical care in November ahead of her arrest, and has made convicting Arroyo the centrepiece of his anti-corruption campaign.
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