Miranda, others need not be hospitalized, says Army doctor

By Ronron
October 3, 2007

Former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and a few of his fellow accused in the alleged February 2006 coup plot need not be hospitalized despite some complaints to their health, an Army doctor said Wednesday.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Lt. Col. Edwin Leo Torrelavega, the chief of the Army Station Hospital of the 2nd Infantry Division, based in Tanay, Rizal, said Miranda is just in normal condition, while the rest who are complaining may just be treated as “outpatients.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro disclosed though in the same news conference that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. last Monday approved for Miranda’s Annual Physical Examination (APE) at the AFP Medical Center on V. Luna Avenue, Quezon City.

Bacarro will not say, however, when will the actual examination be, although he said there are ongoing arrangements for his transfer to the AFP Medical Center.

Torrelavega said Miranda’s sugar and cholesterol level were fine the last time he was checked-up on September 19, contrary to the claim made by fellow accused, Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, during the General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings last September 28 in Tanay.

The doctor-officer said Miranda may also have some ear infections but when he checked it last September 28, immediately after the GCM hearing, it “showed significant improvements.”

Torrelavega denied Lim’s claim that Miranda risks of going into comatose due to hypoglycemia.

“Unless he does not eat, we cannot do anything. Anyone of us here can go into comatose if we want to due to hypoglycemia by just taking medicines for diabetes even if you are not diabetic and by not eating,” Torrelavega said.

In general, Bacarro said Miranda’s condition is not actually life-threatening.

Meanwhile, as to the other reported ill accused, Torrelavega disclosed that Marine Col. Armando Bañez is actually suffering from colon cancer; Marine Col. Ariel Querubin has history of malaria; Marine Lt. Col. Januario Caringal has lymphoma; and Marine 1Lt. Belinda Ferrer has a particular illness he cannot disclose due to its sensitivity.

“Not all are life-threatening. They need not be hospitalized. They can be administered as outpatients,” Torrelavega said of the four.

But he assured that they are not neglecting them, even the rest of the 28 accused.

The 28 are facing charges for violation of various Articles of War in relation to the alleged February 2006 coup plot against the Arroyo administration./DMS