Detained Senator Leila de Lima is set to undergo a major operation, her legal counsel said on June 13.
De Lima attended her bail hearing on June 13 at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256, which is handling one of her two remaining drug cases.
After the hearing, her lawyer, Filibon Tacardon, said the senator is seeking the approval of the Muntinlupa RTC Branches 2014 and 256 for her to undergo an operation on her uterus.
Tacardon said another hearing is set on June 27 but De Lima will undergo the operation if approved by the courts.
“Wala pang naka-schedule kasi meron pang pinag-uusapan na mga motion. Pero may schedule supposedly sa 27. Ang problema lang, I mean June 27, ang problema lang si De Lima will undergo a medical procedure starting kelan ba, June 19 to 25 (There is no schedule yet because there are motions to be discussed. But there is a schedule supposedly on the 27th. The problem is, I mean June 27, the only problem is De Liam will undergo a medical procedure starting June 19 to 25),” he said.
He added, “Ma-o-operahan siya. Nag-apply na kami ng medical furlough sa Branch 204 at saka Branch 256. Ma-o-operahan siya sa Manila Doctors Hospital, it is a major procedure na gagawin sa kanya (She will be operated on. We have already applied for medical furlough at Branch 204 and Branch 256. She will operated on at Manila Doctors Hospital, it is a major procedure that will be done to her).”
When asked what kind of procedure, Tacardon said it is on her uterus.
“Well, it is about the uterus, hysterectomy something. I don’t remember the exact medical term pero it is a major procedure that will remove part of her uterus,” he said.
He said the medical procedure is urgent as the procedure was delayed before.
“Ngayon parang ang doctor na ang nagsabi na she has to do it now. So gusto man ni De Lima na ituloy tuloy niya ang kanyang petition for bail dahil dalawa na lang ang hearing, mapipilitan siyang magtuloy sa medical procedure niya dahil it is a concern na, lumalabas na it is already a concern for her (This time it is the doctor who said that she has to do it now. So even if De Lima wants to continue her petition for bail because there are only two remaining hearings, she will be forced undergo the medical procedure because it is a concern, it appears that it is already a concern for her),” Tacardon added.
Tacardon said they asked for medical furlough until June 25 and the court hearing is on June 27.
“The hearing is on June 27 so we do not know exactly the situation of De Lima at that time, ang sabi niya sa akin kanina, baka mag-recover pa siya. So sabi namin na let’s see, kapag hindi kakayanin ang June 27, then we will inform the Court properly about it. (“The hearing is on June 27 so we do not know exactly the situation of De Lima at that time, she told me earlier that she may still recover . So we said let’s see, if she cannot on June 27, then we will inform the Court properly about it),” he said.