Former senator Ernesto Maceda. FILE PHOTO
Former Senator Ernesto Maceda’s falling into a state of coma while confined at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City came as a shock to his family. They thought he would live for “another 10 years or more.”
More than a month ago, Maceda, 81, now deemed “clinically dead,” was actively campaigning for his son Edward, a former Manila councilor, when he ran for Congress last May.
“My dad is 81. He’s had gallstones problems before and a bypass operation years ago but he’s still very mentally sharp and physically active,” Maceda’s son Edmond said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
“We’re still in shock. We thought he’s good for another 10 years or more,” he said.
READ: Maceda still on life support, son corrects chief of staff
Edmond said his father even attended the oathtaking of Edward as Manila’s Fourth District representative.
“He was very active beside Edward, mentoring him. We were so happy for him (Edward). Now, we’re all sad,” he said.
Edmond said his father may be in a comatose state due to complications from bleeding after his gallbladder removal surgery.
Maceda successfully recovered from the surgical operation last Sunday. “He was conscious. He was mentally sharp. He can’t speak because there was a tube in his mouth but he’s happy he made it through the operation,” recalled his son.
That night, Edmond said, Maceda went to sleep in a good state.
But he later suffered internal bleeding after his bladder was removed, affecting his heart and kidney. He also underwent a pacemaker surgery to keep his heart beating.
“I got news this morning that he became unconscious. When I arrived (in the hospital), the doctors were trying to revive his heart. I guess his heart failed. It wouldn’t respond,” Edmond said.
As of Monday afternoon, Maceda’s family said he was still fighting for his life while connected to a life support machine.
“But chances are very slim that he will recover from the earlier organ failures so we’re waiting for our eldest brother to arrive from Hong Kong before we, as a family, disconnect the machine,” he said.
The former Senate leader started his stint in the Senate in 1971 but his term was cut short when martial law was declared in 1972. He was Senate President from 1996 to 1998.
After martial law, Maceda was again elected to the Senate from 1987 to 1992. During his term, Maceda was acknowledged for filing the most number of bills, delivering the most number of privilege speeches, and for having perfect attendance in the Senate.
He was then appointed ambassador to the United States by former President Joseph Estrada from 1999 to 2001. JE/rga