JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez underwent a kidney transplant yesterday at the National Kidney Institute, according to Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera.

Devanadera has been acting justice secretary since late last month after the 76-year-old Gonzalez went on medical leave.

"I met with him, and he’s still the same. I told him that he is a fighter and that he should fight on. Transplants sound horrifying but they are usually the best remedy," Devanadera told reporters.

Sources said Gonzalez’ kidney donor was his personal driver Felicito Gunay.

The operation started at around 7 a.m. and lasted for about two hours. At 11 a.m., Gonzalez was pronounced in stable condition.

Last August 29, Gonzalez asked the President to allow him to go on a month-long medical leave after the President saw him in a Cabinet meeting looking gaunt and had difficulty walking.

Gonzalez earlier had been brought to an undisclosed hospital for bleeding ulcers.

Gonzalez said his doctors advised him to have a kidney transplant to do away with a regular dialysis. – Evangeline de Vera