ONLY his left lung and not the entire former
Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa is missing.
Villarosa’s wife, Rep. Amelita Villarosa of
Kampi, said her husband was brought to the Makati Medical Center
where his "cancerous" left lung was removed. He is still
recuperating.
"My husband, the former congressman and
governor did not escape. He just underwent a left lung surgery
because it is cancerous at Makati Medical Center right after New
Year. He is in the recovery room, he is here," she said.
The deputy speaker for women said her husband
was confined with the approval of the Justice Department and the
National Bilibid Prison.
She said the former lawmaker is being guarded
round-the-clock in his room to ensure that he is not going
anywhere.
The murder convict had left the NBP in
Muntinlupa City on Dec. 7, 2007 to undergo treatment for
pneumonia at MMC but was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center in
Quezon City on Dec. 26, 2007 to undergo another test before he
was brought back to MMC.
Mrs. Villarosa said her husband underwent
surgery on Jan. 5, 2008.
Press Secretary and Presidential spokesman
Ignacio Bunye on Wednesday afternoon visited Villarosa at the
MMC to prove that he is not missing. Bunye had with him a
photographer and a cameraman from the Radio, Television
Malacañang and Mrs. Villarosa’s permission.
Bunye said visits are restricted and the
hospital, without the consent of the Villarosa family, earlier
had to deny that the former congressman was confined there.
Mrs. Villarosa initially informed President
Arroyo of her husband’s condition during the state visit in
Madrid last December. Arroyo replied that she will pray for him.
Villarosa was convicted in 2006 for the murder of the two
sons of his rival, former Occidental Mindoro Gov. Ricardo
Quintos in 1997. – Wendell Vigilia and Jocelyn Montemayor
