Former president and Manila mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada was rushed to the hospital on Sunday after contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
His son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said on Monday that the former president, 83, is now in stable condition at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan City.
"Sa aking mga kababayan, nais ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na ang aking ama, na si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada, ay isinugod namin sa ospital kagabi sa kadahilanan ng panghihina ng kanyang katawan (To my countrymen, I want to inform you that my father, former President Joseph Estrada, was rushed to the hospital last night because he was getting weak)," Jinggoy said in a Facebook post.
"Na-diagnose na po siya na positibo sa COVID-19 (He was diagnosed to be positive for COVID-19)," he added.
The younger Estrada asked for prayers for his father's immediate recovery.
"Stable po ang kanyang kundisyon at ako po ay humihingi ng inyong mga panalangin sa kanyang agarang paggaling. Maraming salamat po! Stay safe mga kababayan ko ("His condition is stable and I am asking for your prayers for his swift recovery. Thank you very much! Stay safe, my countrymen)!" he said.
Former Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito also said: "Please pray for my father who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital."
The Estrada patriarch was the country's 13th president and served from 1998 to 2001. Before this, he was a long-time mayor in San Juan City, senator, and vice president.
He became the local chief executive for Manila in 2013, until 2019.
He will turn 84 on April 19.