MANILA - The Supreme Court approved on Tuesday former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's request to celebrate her birthday with her family.

However, the High Court granted only three days of furlough, from 8 a.m. of April 4 to 5 p.m. of April 6.

Arroyo, whose birthday is on April 5, initially requested for a five-day leave from hospital detention, from 8 a.m. on April 3 to 5 p.m. on April 7.

Arroyo said she plans to spend her birthday in her house in La Vista Subdivision, Quezon City.

In a motion filed on Friday, counsel for Arroyo argued that doctors have suggested that continued confinement is "injurious" to Arroyo's health, and spending time with friends and family would be good for her recovery.

The former president is currently under hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center while the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court review her plunder case for allegedly diverting P365.8-million in confidential/intelligence funds to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2008 to 2010.

Arroyo's plunder case is currently on hold, after the Supreme Court extended the status quo ante order for another 60 days, or up to April 20, 2016, to give the high court more time to review her pending petitions. -- report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News

READ: SC extends halt order on Arroyo plunder trial