The document received by the Sandiganbayan includes the dissenting opinions of justices who participated in the case deliberations.
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Absolved from plunder charges, former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Manila early evening on Thursday.
Arroyo is expected to be able to go home before Thursday ends or two days after the Supreme Court’s decision came out. It was filed by the Ombudsman in 2012 in the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds.
A convoy of vehicles carrying Arroyo, her supporters and lawyers was seen leaving the suburban hospital compound near Manila but she could not be seen from her car’s tinted windows.
Meanwhile, 58 percent said Arroyo should have been detained in a regular jail while 42 percent said she should have been held under house arrest.
The court decision is nearly certain to be welcomed by new President Rodrigo Duterte, who had said he would seek her release.
Arroyo was initially arrested on charges of electoral sabotage for allegedly conspiring with election officials to rig 2007 senatorial polls.
Despite her detention, a spinal condition and legal cases against her, Arroyo remains an influential figure in national politics.
Because of her illness, the government allowed her to be detained in a military hospital.
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On Tuesday, a majority of court justices granted Arroyo’s petition to have the plunder charge against her dismissed for lack of evidence.
