As Estrada’s pneumonia worsens, son warns about COVID-19’s unpredictability

MANILA, Philippines — The worsening pneumonia of former president Joseph Estrada, who has tested positive for COVID-19, shows the disease’s unpredictability, according to his son.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Estrada’s son, former Senator JV Ejercito, reported that the ex-president and former Manila mayor was already recovering well from COVID-19 infection. However, conditions deteriorated within a day as Estrada struggled to breathe.

Earlier, Jinggoy Estrada, Ejercito’s half-brother and former senator, announced that the elder Estrada’s pneumonia had worsened, requiring the use of a mechanical ventilator to increase oxygen supply.

READ: Ex-President Erap on mechanical ventilation as pneumonia ‘worsened,’ says son 

“COVID is unpredictable.  My dad was recuperating very well the past few days when suddenly it shifted yesterday when his Pneumonia worsened, thus the need to use a ventilator,” Ejercito said.

He requested prayer for his father once more.

“Your prayers would mean a lot,” he added.

Jinggoy posted a medical bulletin from the family last Sunday, saying that medical staff transferred Estrada to the intensive care unit after being sedated to alleviate distress that could exacerbate his condition. He said that Estrada, who previously served as mayor of San Juan, senator, and vice president, was in stable condition.

READ: Ex-President Estrada moved to ICU but stable, family confirms 

The Estrada family revealed on March 29 that Erap, as his fans affectionately know him, had contracted the SARS-COV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

It was also reported that the former president was forced to spend the night in a hospital’s emergency room due to a shortage of available space.

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