UP Ibalon Bicol: Bolante’s medical drama continues, but doctors say “telling the truth is therapeutic.”

Bolante’s medical drama continues, but doctors say “telling the truth is therapeutic.”

11/08/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

When Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante stepped out of the airport after he was deported back to the Philippines from USA, the former agricultural undersecretary went straight to the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in an ambulance to start the tale of his illness. It is the familiar props of accused felons and shady characters which blur the distinctions between malingering and actual illness.

For sure, as I suggested in an old blog, Bolante is most likely suffering from health conditions that do not need a protracted “vacation” in a hospital suite. There are sicker patients out there who need his bed and people are tired of the drama which puts the medical profession’s credibility in a precarious balance.

In spite of the high-brow medical jargon SMLC’s Dr. Romeo Saavedra tells the press, Bolante appears in no immediate danger to die. His medical tests are long-drawn(running up to two weeks,) and sluggishly elaborate, belaboring the public to harbor doubts. One thing is sure though--- Bolante needs to quickly come out of the hospital and answer the allegations surrounding the misuse of P232 million for fertilizer in 2003.

The murder of Marlene Esparat, the journalist-complainant of the case remains unsolved. And another scandal links Bolante to the P728 million misuse of money allegedly distributed to help Pres.Gloria M. Arroyo in her reelection. Think of the poor helpless farmers who have been adversely affected because government officials are neglectful and corrupt.

According to Senate Pres. Manuel Villar, Jr, Bolante is still under arrest and he sums up by saying “You know it is hard for us who are not doctors to talk about (Bolante’s condition) because even if he has no serious (health problem), we do not want to be blamed for whatever might happen to him.”

Rightfully, doctors of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) added Bolante could heal himself by telling the truth on the fertilizer fund scam. “Truth-telling is therapeutic,” says HEAD’s general secretary Dr. Geneve Rivera. Philstar (11/08/08, Punay, E.) Who will disagree? (Photo Credit: Icarusrising; mindmanifesting)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: "Hospital: a vacation house or a sanctuary for malingerers?" Posted by mesiamd at 10/29/2008; “Accused of Plunder, Jocjoc Bolante, Returns from US a Deportee’ (10/29/08, Gimpaya, A)

UPDATE: After a long-drawn stay in the hospital (12 days confined in a suite as of November 10, 2008) doctors at St. Luke's Medical Center released Jocelyn Bolante with a clean bill of health. This is what the public expects when the suspiciom is raised that felons and shady characters seek hospitals as vacation houses and malingerer's sanctuary.

Labels: Corruption, Dr. Romeo Saavedra, Fertilizer scam, Health, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), illness, Jocelyn (JocJoc) Bolante, malingering, Medicine, St. Luke's Medical Center Manila, Totie Mesia

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Bolante’s medical drama continues, but doctors say “telling the truth is therapeutic.”

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