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Monday, December 13, 2004
Poe battles for life after first stroke
MANILA -- Fernando Poe Jr., who narrowly lost this year's presidential elections and then sought to nullify President Arroyo's victory, suffered a stroke and was in a coma, his spokesman said Sunday.
Poe complained of dizziness while drinking and dining with friends and employees in his film studio in Quezon City Saturday night. He was immediately brought to a hospital, where he was in an intensive-care unit, said his spokesman, Representative 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."
President Arroyo called on the public to pray for the actor.
Poe, 65, slipped into a coma Sunday morning at the intensive care unit of St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City. Doctors needed to conduct more tests over the next 72 hours to predict his chances of recovery, Escudero told a press conference.
Initial tests showed medicine administered by doctors seemed to be clearing the blood clot in Poe's brain, he added.
Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo "joins 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," added Bunye.
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 organized in a church near Poe's hospital, he said.
He said Poe suffered a blood clot in one of the veins on the right side of his brain and this brought about the stroke.
Poe's wife, actress Susan Roces, is in the hospital with him.
Poe was having dinner with Escudero, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, fellow actors Eddie Garcia, Jaime Fabregas and some of his staff in the film studio when he complained of dizziness.
Escudero said Poe ignored it, thinking it was just because he recently changed his eyeglasses but when he felt severe chest pains, they decided to rush him to the hospital.
He said Poe was still conscious when he was rushed to the hospital at 11:20 p.m.
Escudero urged Poe supporters to pray for the actor's recovery. He also asked the public not to color the incident with politics.
He said Poe is serious about his election protest to prove he won the last presidential elections. (JFF/JMR)
(December 13, 2004 issue)
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