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(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Byline: Gil Cabacungan Jr. and Armand Nocum
IN AN EFFORT to justify her administration's perceived mellowing stance, President Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said she was acting only in "compassion and respect" toward her predecessor.
"Within the bounds set forth by the court, we are exercising utmost compassion and respect for the dignity of the former President [Joseph Estrada]," Ms Macapagal said in a statement. "This is simply a matter of humane consideration."
Earlier, the government relaxed its stringent rules on Estrada's detention when it posed no objection to his request to be allowed to visit his ailing mother at her residence in San Juan, and to his subsequent confinement at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang for treatment of severe arthritis.
Estrada was moved out of the hospital at 3:30 p.m. yesterday and taken back to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, to where he was transferred late last month from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Ms Macapagal has also earlier hinted that Estrada could be allowed to fly to the United States to undergo knee surgery.