‘Hypertensive episodes’ risky for Mike Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines – A government doctor has testified in the Senate and confirmed that it would be life threatening for former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to subject him under “hypertensive episodes.”

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Dr. Manuel Chuachiaco, executive director of the Philippine Center, told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Monday that Arroyo has indeed a persisting dissecting aneurism, a medical condition that will continue to expand and always carries the risk of fracture.

“The only way to minimize the risk of this fracture is to keep his blood pressure down and it’s my opinion that putting him in a situation where we can’t assure that there will be no hypertensive episodes will be putting his life at risk,” he said.

Chuachiaco though admitted that he did not personally examine Arroyo and that his findings were only based on the medical records given to him by the patient’s doctors.