MANILA, Philippines ? Former President Corazon Aquino?s condition has shifted to ?guarded? from stable, as her blood pressure fluctuates, according to a statement released by her family.

?Our mother?s condition which has been stable for several weeks now has turned guarded this afternoon. We are continuously monitoring her blood pressure, which has been fluctuating,? said the statement, released by the office of Senator Benigno Aquino III.

?At present, she is asleep and comfortable and not in pain,? the statement added.

Mrs. Aquino has been in the hospital for weeks due to complications from colon cancer, which has spread to her liver and other internal organs.

In an interview with reporters, the young Aquino said that when his mother was first diagnosed with the disease in March 2008, her doctors said she had three months to live.

But Mrs. Aquino has lived for nearly 17 months since the diagnosis, the young Aquino said, as he apologized to the public for not immediately disclosing the said information.