Erap to be transferred to a regular room, son Jinggoy says

Former President Joseph Estrada is doing well and would be brought to a regular room on Monday, according to his son, former senator Jinggoy Estrada.

"He's going to be transferred today to a regular room. All his vital signs are already normal, 'yung kanyang oxygen flow is already normal. His blood pressure has already been stabilized. Kaya sabi ng doktora, [That's why the doctor says] he can be transferred to a regular room today," Jinggoy said in an interview on ANC.

Estrada turned 84 today, April 19. Jinggoy said he would visit his father to bring a birthday cake and greet him.

Last week, Estrada was brought back to the intensive care unit (ICU) after his physicians found a superimposed bacterial lung infection.

On April 13, Estrada already tested negative for COVID-19.

According to Jinggoy, his father was given leronlimab by his doctors aside from other medicines such as remdesivir.

"I consulted the doctors of my dad regarding the use of leronlimab and they talked among themselves and they agreed to administer leronlimab to my father," Estrada said.

He said he could not solely credit leronlimab as the reason why his father's condition improved because he has been taking other antibiotics as well.

Jinggoy, meanwhile, said the doctors did not agree with administering anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to his father amid reports that it can be a possible treatment for COVID-19.

"I have consulted the doctors of my father regarding ivermectin because there was lots of report na nakakagaling nga daw, I consulted the doctor and the doctor said, 'I will not give ivermectin to your dad because that's only for animals,'" Jinggoy said. — RSJ, GMA News