Bolante just might get his wish

Joc-joc Bolante, the best friend of Mike Arroyo whom the Filipino people want to account for the P2.8 billion of money for agriculture which he diverted to the campaign funds of Gloria Arroyo in May 2004, should be reminded that God, in his unfathomable wisdom, just might grant his wish for an illness that would incapacitate him to go anywhere including the Senate investigation.

A source at St. Luke’s Hospital said the doctors are having a hard time looking for an “illness” which Bolante can use to justify his inability to withstand the stress of lying under the intense questioning of the senators.

As of Monday, six days after Bolante arrived Tuesday night in a wheelchair, his hand on his chest as if in pain, the medical bulletin issued by his attending physician,Dr. Romeo Saavedra (also the doctor of Mike Arroyo) said “the patient’s chest pains are due to findings of gastric ulcers and esophagitis.”

That validates the joke going around that Bolante’s blood pressure is 110 over acting.

The medical bulletin, which was read to media by Marilyn Lagniton, St Luke’s corporate communication officer, said a nodule has been noted in Bolante’s prostate, but that “after a series of tests done by the urologist, this was considered to be of no clinical significance.”

Bolante has undergone stress test or treadmill exercise test, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, CT scan of the whole abdomen and coronary CT angiography. The medical bulletin said findings reveal the presence of multiple gastric ulcers, esophagitis and erosive gastritis, which tested positive for H-pylori.”

A colonoscopy was thus conducted on Bolante which “showed the presence of multiple polyps, which were all removed.”

The long and short of it is that, they have found nothing that Bolante can use to tell the senators I’m too sick to tell the truth.

In fact, Bolante’s medications consist of anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, proton pump inhibitor, antibiotics, and an antihystaminic (ceterizine) which persons over 50 living normal lives are familiar with. (By the way, internet demystifies proton pump inhibitors as a group of drugs for long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production.)

Saavedra recommended that more tests be done such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Magnetic Resonance Angiography on Bolante’s brain because he Bolante complained of “unsteadiness” after the stress test.”

Does St. Luke’s have an equipment to test conscience? That’s what Bolante needs.

One’s health should not be a laughing matter but the public’s cynicism about Bolante’s health condition is simply a reaction to the insults thrown at them by him and his protectors, particularly Gloria and Mike Arroyo.

Actually, by going straight to St. Luke’s upon his arrival and staying there as long as he can, Bolante did the Senate a favor. We learned that his lawyers were planning to file a complaint with the Commission of Human Rights. But with the Senate’s tolerance, more because at that time the senators were in different parts of the world and had not yet gotten their act together, he can’t say that he didn’t get the best medical attention.

It’s better for Bolante to stay at St. Luke’s as long as he shoulders the bill than be a burden to the undermanned Senate security. They just have to make sure that he didn’t slip away because there’s information that he plans to go to Hongkong, then to Malaysia. He wants be out of the country for two or three months, which is the time of the scheduled senate investigation and the deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo which also includes the fertilizer scam.

There is no hold departure order for Bolante although he is in the watch list. The Senate would have to be notified if he leaves the country. That is, if the court doesn’t free him from Senate custody.

It’s understandable why Bolante is so afraid to face the Senate, which has documented his plunder of P728 million out of the P2.8 billion agriculture funds released a few days before the May 10, 2004 elections. If he tells the truth, he would have to say who ordered or authorized him to commit the crime against the impoverished farmers. There’s no way that Gloria Arroyo would not be dragged in. If he keeps quiet, he would be the only one to suffer the punishment of the crime. Since the death penalty has been repealed, plunder is punishable by life imprisonment.

Filipinos have a way expressing their anger and despair in a joke. Like this one:

Joc-joc: Doctor, Doctor I am sick, call Mike very quick.

(Mike arrives).

Joc-joc: Mike, my best friend,shall I die?

Mike: No, my best friend. Just lie and lie.