Human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag was finally moved from Makati Medical Center’s (MMC) intensive care unit (ICU) to a regular room early Wednesday evening.
Sources said the former senator bid the ICU nurses goodbye before his transfer and thanked them for taking very good care of him.
Saguisag stayed at the ICU for 27 days following a road accident that killed his wife Dulce in Makati City last Nov. 8. He suffered serious injuries, including fractured ribs.
Upon Saguisag’s admission into the hospital, the MMC assigned a neurosurgeon, an orthopedic doctor, a cardiologist, and a chest specialist to monitor his condition and provide necessary treatment.
For more than two weeks, the former senator breathed with the aid of a ventilator until he was able to breathe on his own.
During the past few days, he started talking to nurses and loved ones and even occasionally asks if he can already be allowed to drink diet cola with ice.
Sources said that after transferring Saguisag to a regular room, the hospital will soon deny that he is still confined, in order to respect his right to privacy.
Saguisag’s wife was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque days after the vehicular accident took place at the corner of Arnaiz Avenue and Osmeña Highway.
Their family driver, Philip Calvario, and dance instructress, Imelda Obong, were also hurt in the road mishap but survived.
Manuel Geronimo, who drove the dump truck that rammed the Saguisags’ Toyota Grandia van, has been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple serious physical injuries, and damage to property.