by Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA, Philippines - A cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center believes Chief Justice Renato Corona was not role-playing when he suddenly left the witness stand on Tuesday following a 3-hour opening statement.
In an interview with ANC, TOYM-awardee Dr. Ludgerio Torres said Corona could have suffered a stroke yesterday given his previous ailments.
“I was really admiring the guts of the Chief Justice since a rigorous three-hour ordeal of being emotional, that was bad for his heart. A possible brain stroke could have happened,” he said.
He said the risk of a stroke at that point was very high, given that Corona has had two bypass operations. The chief justice is also diabetic.
Some quarters have questioned the unceremonious exit of Corona in yesterday’s proceedings, saying he walked out and disrespected the court.
His doctor and son-in-law, Constantino Castillo, said Corona suffered from hypoglycemia. The chief justice, as of posting, was still at the intensive care unit of The Medical City to guard against a possible heart attack.
“I believe that when he developed hypoglycemia, he was already a little bit incoherent or disoriented. He must have been temporarily out of his mind. That was my impression after he got out of the witness stand,” Torres said.
When asked that Corona looked “perfectly alright” after leaving the witness stand, he said: “As far as I’m concerned, he was trying to camouflage his medical condition. He wanted to make it appear he’s still strong.”
He said an ordinary person made to go through Corona's ordeal could have just given up. “But at the very end, he used his remaining stamina and energy. I was really expecting something was happening.”
No ultimatums
Torres said it was wrong for the Senate to give an ultimatum to the chief justice. On Wednesday afternoon, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gave the defense the chance to present Corona until Friday at 2:00 p.m. to continue his testimony.
The Senate is expected to give its verdict next week.
Torres said he would not advise that Corona go back to the witness stand “on Friday and not [just] at any time.”
He said it would be better if Corona retire from the court due to poor health. “It would be a graceful exit and not humiliate him further.”
Torres said the Senate should understand that Corona cannot "withstand further external factors."
“The Senate should be able to understand this is not overacting, I think he’s really suffering," he said.
MANILA, Philippines - A cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center believes Chief Justice Renato Corona was not role-playing when he suddenly left the witness stand on Tuesday following a 3-hour opening statement.
In an interview with ANC, TOYM-awardee Dr. Ludgerio Torres said Corona could have suffered a stroke yesterday given his previous ailments.
“I was really admiring the guts of the Chief Justice since a rigorous three-hour ordeal of being emotional, that was bad for his heart. A possible brain stroke could have happened,” he said.
He said the risk of a stroke at that point was very high, given that Corona has had two bypass operations. The chief justice is also diabetic.
Some quarters have questioned the unceremonious exit of Corona in yesterday’s proceedings, saying he walked out and disrespected the court.
His doctor and son-in-law, Constantino Castillo, said Corona suffered from hypoglycemia. The chief justice, as of posting, was still at the intensive care unit of The Medical City to guard against a possible heart attack.
“I believe that when he developed hypoglycemia, he was already a little bit incoherent or disoriented. He must have been temporarily out of his mind. That was my impression after he got out of the witness stand,” Torres said.
When asked that Corona looked “perfectly alright” after leaving the witness stand, he said: “As far as I’m concerned, he was trying to camouflage his medical condition. He wanted to make it appear he’s still strong.”
He said an ordinary person made to go through Corona's ordeal could have just given up. “But at the very end, he used his remaining stamina and energy. I was really expecting something was happening.”
No ultimatums
Torres said it was wrong for the Senate to give an ultimatum to the chief justice. On Wednesday afternoon, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gave the defense the chance to present Corona until Friday at 2:00 p.m. to continue his testimony.
The Senate is expected to give its verdict next week.
Torres said he would not advise that Corona go back to the witness stand “on Friday and not [just] at any time.”
He said it would be better if Corona retire from the court due to poor health. “It would be a graceful exit and not humiliate him further.”
Torres said the Senate should understand that Corona cannot "withstand further external factors."
“The Senate should be able to understand this is not overacting, I think he’s really suffering," he said.
