Imelda trips, rushed to hospital

MANILA, Philippines - Former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos was taken to hospital after tripping on the stairs at the north wing of the House of Representatives yesterday.

Doctors took the 84-year-old Ilocos Norte lawmaker to the Philippine Heart Center for examination, according to Rica de la Cuesta of the House information office.

The accident happened shortly after the House elected its officers led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Marcos voted for her nephew, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who lost the minority leadership to San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

Filodelfo Diaz, Marcos’ chief of staff, said his boss fell but was helped up by her personal nurse and security aides.

“She has been X-rayed and she’s okay,” he said.

“In fact, she wants to return to the Batasan for the SONA (State of the Nation Address), but doctors advised her against it.”

In a test message to The STAR, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said her mother “banged legs” in the accident.

“She is fine now,” she said.

As of late yesterday afternoon, Marcos was still in the hospital. – Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero