Former President Noynoy Aquino now out of hospital – Valte

Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (INQUIRER FILE)

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Benigno S. Aquino III was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, his spokesperson said.

“Happy to report that Former President Noynoy Aquino has been discharged from the hospital today. He thanks everyone who sent prayers and well-wishes,” former deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message.

Aquino went to the Makati Medical Center on December 9 for a scheduled check-up and a routine procedure.

He was later admitted to the intensive care unit so the hospital “could secure him easily” and “also to limit visitors.”

“He was in the ICU for a short period as the hospital could secure him easily from there. He moved to a regular room last Tuesday morning,” Valte said.

“He asked that he be moved to a regular room as he did not want to disturb the other patients, and his state was not critical,” she added.

Aquino has been confined at the hospital for a week because “his doctors took the opportunity to run all tests necessary for someone his age,” Valte also explained.

Despite this, Valte has downplayed speculations that the 59-year-old ex-president was seriously ill.

“His condition? Nothing out of the ordinary,” she earlier said, even quoting Aquino that he was just “heartbroken.”

On November 20, Aquino, a smoker, admitted that he suffered pneumonia.

READ: Ex-President Noynoy Aquino admits contracting pneumonia

In August, he skipped the death anniversary of his late father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., with his youngest sister, Kris, saying her brother was “not okay,” making people speculate he has a serious illness.

Edited by KGA