Senate sends own doctor to check on Corona’s condition

JUSTICE ON WHEELS Corona is wheeled back into the Senate’s session hall after his “walkout.” He’s now confined at The Medical City in Pasig. RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate early Wednesday has sent its own doctor to The Medical City hospital in Pasig City to check on the condition of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was brought to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital allegedly for possible heart attack.

Upon hearing Corona’s condition, Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said in an interview that he immediately called Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile and suggested to bring the Senate’s doctor, Mariano Blancha, to check on Corona.

Sotto said he expects Blancha to make a report before the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, resumes at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Senator Pia Cayetano, in a separate interview, said Corona has to submit a medical  certification to the Senate to dispel any speculation that he was just using his health condition to escape  the  trial.

“Well, it doesn’t sit well with me because we extended so much courtesy. And now of course for humanitarian reason, you have to consider the medical condition of a person right? I mean that’s a given,” Cayetano said.

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“I think at the end of the day, we will go into caucus and the body will decide if that’s reasonable… because we have to definitely await the certification. There has to be a certification because we already know very well, unfortunately minsan na-abuse din naman ang medical excuses just like in High School,” she added.