De Lima arrives at Manila Doctors to undergo major surgery

Senator Leila de Lima on Monday arrived at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila to undergo a major surgical procedure.

Last week, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 granted De Lima’s motion for a medical furlough between June 19 and June 25 for "surgery and hospital confinement."

During her medical checkup on April 5, De Lima was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse stage 3 and was advised to undergo vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and posterior colporrhaphy "at the soonest possible time," she said.

Dr. Errol Santelices, her personal physician, suggested that the senator be confined for at least 120 hours to evaluate the status of her recovery and assess if her heart condition is being affected, considering that she had a suspected mild stroke in April 2021.

The court allowed the Philippine National Police Custodial Service Unit to assign police escorts to bring De Lima to the Manila Doctors Hospital.

It also directed the PNP to immediately return De Lima to her detention facility once the five-day furlough is completed.

De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since February 2017 over allegations that she allowed the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the New Bilibid Prison during her term as justice secretary. —KG, GMA News