Tokyo  - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo departed the western Japanese city of Osaka Saturday for a summit in Lima, leaving her husband at hospital after he fell ill on their flight, media reports said.

The condition of Jose Miguel Arroyo, 62, was not announced.

Philippine Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno had denied reports that Mr Arroyo had suffered a heart attack, saying he had "stomach cramps and back pains."

Mr Arroyo, who had undergone surgery in April 2007 to correct an aneurysm in his heart, was taken to an Osaka hospital Friday night after the Arroyos' plane made an emergency landing.

The controversial first gentleman, who has been linked to various government scandals, is to remain in Japan until his doctors allow him to return to Manila.

President Arroyo stayed with him overnight, the news reports said, before she left for Los Angeles, where she was to briefly meet with the Filipino community, before flying to Lima to attend this weekend's 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. (dpa)