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Sunday, April 18, 2004
Roco hopes to hop back in race
MANILA -- Getting good prognosis about his health problem, presidential candidate Raul Roco hopes to be back in the country within the month to join the Alyansa ng Pag-asa candidates in the remaining days of the campaign.
Roco, in a radio interview, said he is not affected with former Cebu Governor Lito Osmena's statement that he is not likely to win this election that is why Promdi is jumping out of the coalition.
According to the former education secretary, series of tests has been conducted on him and so far everything is going well, but he refuses to disclose the results because the hospital policy is very strict.
He said there is no diagnosis yet on what caused his chronic back pain.
"Wala pang diagnosis. Pero, ang prognosis sabi nila ay mahusay. At siguro sa loob ng buwan na ito ay makakauwi ako. Iyon ang inaasahan ko. Malaki ang pag-asa kong makarating ako diyan bago matapos ang buwan (There is no diagnosis yet but the prognosis are good. Maybe within the month I can already go home, that's what I'm hoping for. I have bigger chances of going home before the end of the month)," Roco said in an interview.
Roco also refused to tell the public his exact whereabouts because according to him he needs some rests. However, he said he is in Houston, but not in the city proper.
Roco then assured his supporters that he would announce the results of the medical examination.
Roco added his condition is not dangerous because the doctors advised him to stay at home while the tests are being studied.
Earlier, Jaime Galvez Tan, Roco's campaign manager said that basing on the complaint of Rocco, it is possible that he is suffering prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is a group of cancerous cells (a malignant tumor) that begins most often in the outer part of the prostate. Early prostate cancer usually does not cause any symptoms. However, as the tumor grows, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas. Change in urination, including increased frequency, hesitancy or dribbling of urine may be experienced.
Prostate cancer can spread from the prostate to nearby lymph nodes, bones or other organs. This spread is called metastasis. For example, as a result of metastasis to the spine, some men experience back pain.
Politics
Meanwhile, Roco assured his supporters that his fight for the presidency will continue. He laughed off reports that his decision to seek medical treatment is just a graceful exit to withdraw from the race.
"Tuloy na tuloy ang laban at pagsisikapan kong andiyan ako bago magkatapusan ang buwan," he said.
He said he is not affected with Osmena's statement that he is not likely to win this election that is why the Probinsya Muna Development Party (Promdi) chair is conducting a secret vote to determine which presidential candidates the party will support.
Roco said he could not change anyone's decision.
Promdi is one of the major group coalescing with Aksyon Demokratiko forming the Alyansa ng Pag-asa party.
Osmeņa earlier said he would only consider substituting for Roco if the former senator himself asks him. This would only happen if Promdi members lobby with the Aksyon Demokratiko head.
Promdi is still discussing whether to take in President Arroyo as the guest candidate but Osmeņa said the group is not abandoning Alyansa ng Pag-asa's vice presidential and seven senatorial candidates since they are still "viable."JPM
(April 18, 2004 issue)
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