Lawyer Abigail Valte, spokesperson of former President Benigno Aquino III, on Tuesday said the former president was transferred from the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical City to a regular room.
She said Aquino wanted to be separated from other hospital patients so he would not be disturbing them.
When asked, Valte said “he [Aquino] is in the same condition as yesterday [Monday], which means good.”
She insisted that the former president’s hospital visit was part of his executive checkup.
She said Aquino wanted to extend his appreciation and gratitude to those who had expressed their concern for his health.
The former president was just “alright and in high spirits, thanks everyone for their concern,” she added.
Aquino’s youngest sister, actress Kris Aquino, denied her brother’s plans to leave the country.
“Please stop showing the world na puro fake news ang alam nyo [all you know is fake news] by making this out to be a ploy about Noy wanting to leave the Philippines for treatment,” she said.
“For more than three months he could have easily traveled abroad, he chose not to because there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than home,” she added.
The anti-graft court, in 2017 issued a hold-departure order on the former president for his alleged negligence in the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force troopers.
Last Monday, Valte refuted the statement of Makati City police chief Rogelio Simon that Aquino had to undergo heart surgery.
She said Aquino went to the Makati Medical City for a scheduled checkup and routine procedure.