Reelectionist Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has requested a travel clearance from the House of Representatives to fly to Singapore where her husband, former first gentleman Mike Arroyo, is scheduled to undergo surgery for a dissecting aneurysm.

The former president will be out of the country from 3 to 21 April.

Earlier this week, Arroyo appealed for prayers, revealing that her family was going through a “difficult time.”

‘I am grieving not only because of my husband’s health, but also for the recent loss of Paowee Tantoco, the husband of my niece Dina.’

Both her husband and son, Mikey, were dealing with significant health issues, she said.

She said that Mike’s dissecting aortic aneurysm, which required emergency repair back in 2007, had worsened and needs major surgery — a combination of a bypass and aortoplasty — which is scheduled for 7 April.

Arroyo also said their son Mikey was recently diagnosed with stage one thyroid cancer, which required surgery on 18 March. The procedure was successful, she said.

“I am grieving not only because of my husband’s health, but also for the recent loss of Paowee Tantoco, the husband of my niece Dina,” Arroyo said on Facebook.

Despite the challenges, Arroyo pledged to spend the remaining days of her campaign engaging with her constituents in Pampanga before traveling to Singapore.

The former president is running for reelection as Pampanga’s second district representative.