|
Monday, December 13, 2004
Poe battles for life after first stroke
* Erap allowed to visit
* Vigils swiftly organized outside hospital
* Graft court allows former president Joseph Estrada a 2-hour visit, after Fernando Poe Jr., 65, slips into a coma
* Poe was having dinner with actor-pals, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and House Minority Leader Francis Escudero when he suffered a stroke
* Doctors set 72-hour timetable for tests, before assessing Poe’s chances
MANILA - Movie star Fernando Poe Jr., who narrowly lost last May’s presidential elections, has suffered a stroke and is in a coma, his spokesman said yesterday.
As news of his ordeal broke, the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court allowed ousted president Joseph Estrada, a fellow actor and close friend of Poe, to leave detention to briefly visit him late last night, court sheriff Ed Urieta said. Estrada, who is being tried for plunder, called on his followers to pray for Poe.
Poe complained of dizziness while drinking and dining with friends and employees in his film studio in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. He was brought about 11:20 Saturday night to a hospital, where he was in an intensive-care unit, said his spokesman, Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero.
“Initially, he thought it was only because he changed his eyeglasses but later he could no longer stand his dizziness,” Escudero said. “He did not fall to the ground but his condition was no longer normal so we rushed him to the hospital.”
Poe, 65, later slipped into a coma and doctors need to conduct more tests over the next 72 hours to predict his chances of recovery, Escudero told a press conference.
He added that initial tests showed medicine administered by doctors seemed to be clearing the blood clot in Poe’s brain.
Outpouring
Escudero quoted Dr. Anastacio Aquino as saying that Poe has not suffered any previous strokes and is responding to medication.
Escudero called on Poe’s legions of followers to pray for his recovery, urging them to visit their local churches instead of gathering at the hospital in order to avoid disrupting medical operations. A prayer vigil was swiftly organized in a church near St. Luke’s Hospital, also in Quezon City.
“You could see in his eyes, last night and early this morning, that he was trying to fight this, and hopefully he will overcome this new challenge,” Escudero said, his voice breaking.
President Arroyo’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said she was joining “the nation in praying for Mr. Poe’s swift and complete recovery, and wishes him well. She hopes that he will be discharged from the hospital soon so that he can enjoy the holiday season with his loved ones.”
The reclusive film star reluctantly agreed to become the opposition’s main challenger to Arroyo in the May 10 elections but lost by 1.1 million votes after a lengthy and tumultuous manual vote count.
Two months later, Poe asked the Supreme Court to nullify her victory and declare him the country’s leader, accusing Arroyo’s party of committing massive electoral fraud.
Arroyo’s camp denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would eventually throw out Poe’s protest, which traditionally takes years to resolve.
Tough year
Poe, who has starred in more than 200 films, is popular for his portrayals of fast-punching, underdog champions of the poor.
He was a formidable opponent to Arroyo even though his campaign suffered from disorganization and questions over his citizenship, which a court later resolved in his favor.
Escudero dismissed any link between Poe’s ailment and his electoral defeat, saying the actor was telling friends Saturday that he was not bitter but would pursue his complaint.
Poe was having a dinner with Escudero, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, fellow actors Eddie Garcia, Jaime Fabregas and his staff in the film studio when he complained of dizziness. Sunnex/AP)
(December 13, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
