Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada is set to be discharged from the hospital following a prolonged bout with COVID-19, his son former senator Jinggoy Estrada said Monday.
“Our family is overjoyed to announce that our father will finally be discharged from the hospital today,” Jinggoy said in a Facebook post.
The former senator thanked the doctors and the people “who prayed with us and supported us through this harrowing experience.”
“But most of all, we would like to thank our Lord Almighty for His love and guidance through all of this,” Jinggoy said.
The elder Estrada tested positive for COVID-19 in March and negative on April 13. However, he was brought back to the intensive care unit on April 16 after his physicians found a superimposed bacterial lung infection.
Estrada’s vital signs later improved, prompting the doctor to transfer him to a regular room.
“Erap” was first moved out of the ICU on April 14 after testing negative for COVID-19, but Jinggoy said on April 16 that his father was transferred back to the ICU due to a bacterial lung infection.
On Monday, April 19, he was again moved out of the ICU as his health condition improved, in time for his 84th birthday.
Estrada was a former actor who became President from 1998 until 2001, succeeding Fidel V. Ramos. He did not finish his six-year term due to a bloodless revolt in 2001, following accusations of corruption.
He was last in public service as Manila City mayor from 2013 until 2019 and has also served as Vice President, senator, and mayor of San Juan City for over two decades.