Corona treated for heart condition; House prosecution drops cross-exam

MANILA—Doctors at the Medical City in Pasig City said Wednesday Chief Justice Renato Corona was being treated to prevent a “possible heart attack.”

They also ruled out his appearance for cross examination at his impeachment trial at the Senate yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, senior vice president of the hospital’s Medical Services Group, said Corona, who was rushed to the Hospital’s intensive care unit after midnight Thursday, will have to stay there for observation for the next 48 hours.

At the press conference with Ramos were Dr. Michael Villa, an endocrinologist, and cardiologist Mariann Alamajar.

He said Corona was being treated for hypoglycemia and prevention of a possible acute “coronary event” or a heart attack.

“We find it prudent to keep him there for 48 hours,” he added.

The hospital official said Corona has been diabetic for the past 20 years “with complications involving both kidneys and the heart.”

Ramos said Corona was “awake and has stable vital signs” but was still considered a high-risk patient.

“His kidney functions poorly. He had two bypass surgeries in 1995 and 2008. He had hypoglycemia yesterday along with his complaint of shortness of breath.

(There is) a possibility of an acute coronary event or heart attack,” Ramos said.

Corona was experiencing cold sweats and light-headedness before he was brought to the hospital at past 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

These, he added, were the main reasons the chief justice was moved to the ICU around 1 a.m. Wednesday for close monitoring.

“We find it prudent to keep him there for 48 hours… It would not be prudent to clear him to go to the Senate trial,” Ramos added.

Ramos said hypoglycemia, or a case of low blood sugar, could have triggered Corona’s heart problems.

He clarified, however, that there was no sign that Corona had a heart attack.

But because his heart does not function normally, he was being monitored at the ICU, Ramos said.

His blood sugar, on the other hand, has already stabilized.

“After taking soda and biscuit, we continue to monitor his blood sugar. It is now under control. His blood sugar is now 120,” said endocrinologist Michael Villa.
Ramos cut him short at that point and did not allow further questions from reporters.

Before that, however, Ramos the hospital welcomed doctors from the Senate to verify Corona’s condition.

Ramos assured the public that the medical report on Corona was not biased even if the hospital’s board chairman, Augusto P. Sarmiento, is the father-in-law of Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez.

“We can assure the public that there was no bias. To be fair to our chairman, he has not made any communication to the medical team (taking care of Corona),” Ramos said.

“We want to be clear that we have nothing to hide,” he said.

Malacañang wished Corona well and hoped he would be fit enough to testify tomorrow at the resumption of his impeachment trial in the Senate.

“We do not wish ill on anyone much less the Chief Justice … but even the Senate impeachment court in its wisdom has seen fit to impose reasonable limitations on his medical condition as an excuse for absence,” said Palace spokesperson Abigail Valte.

For their part, the prosecution said they are confident of waiving their right to cross-examine Corona.

They said they believe that they presented stronger, more concrete evidence and made a better case before the impeachment court.

At the same time, the prosecution also lambasted Corona’s position that he did not need to declare his dollar accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth because of secrecy laws.

If this was the case, then all officials with ill-gotten wealth would just convert all their money into dollar accounts, according to the prosecution spokesperson, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III also said Corona’s interpretation would devalue the SALN filed by officials.

“If we will follow the interpretation of the Chief Justice, our SALN would amount to nothing. It would not really show the true net worth of a public official,” Tanada said. Inquirer