Ex-Philippine president recovering after surgery

MANILA » A spokeswoman says former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been moved to a regular hospital room following a delicate cervical spine surgery last week.

Maite Defensor says the 64-year-old Arroyo was transferred to a room at a hospital in the Philippine capital, Manila, on Sunday from an intensive-care unit, where she was taken after Friday’s five-hour surgery.

Defensor says Arroyo needs about three weeks to recover from the surgery, which was done to correct damage to her cervical spine. Doctors have discouraged visitors to allow her to rest.

Arroyo has been hounded by allegations of massive corruption during her nine-year presidency, which ended last year. Opposition Senator Benigno Aquino III succeeded Arroyo, who has denied any wrongdoing.