Doctors advise Miriam to stay away from politics for the meantime

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has been advised by her doctors to temporarily stay away from politics while she recovers from a recent hypertension attack, her office said Thursday. In a statement, Santiago's office said two doctors "strongly advised" her “to disengage from politics.” The feisty lawmaker was also advised not to report to the Senate when it resumes session on Monday and to insulate herself from political news for the meantime. “If Sen. Santiago reports to the Senate on Monday, she might have a sudden rise in blood pressure and suffer either a stroke or a heart attack. She already had a mild stroke some ten years ago,” the statement quoted former Health secretary and cardiologist Dr. Esperanza Cabral as saying. The statement also noted that Santiago's doctors warned that she is risking a second stroke because of her current feud with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson over the use of Senate savings. Cabral said Santiago recorded a blood pressure of 184/100 when she woke up on Thursday. Santiago’s two younger brothers had died of heart attack while sleeping. “With that kind of medical history, Sen. Santiago will be placing herself in harm’s way if she continues her battle against her fellow senators. I have told her that her political enemies might be dancing on her grave if she continues to fight them singlehandedly,” Cabral said. Santiago’s office also quoted her ophthalmologist, Dr. Rodolfo Chuanico of East Avenue Medical Center, as saying that the clotting in her right eye on Wednesday was a "warning that another abrupt rise in blood pressure might cause a stroke." “Technically, Sen. Santiago suffered a mild stroke after her TV interview. Fortunately, the stroke went to her eye instead of her brain. If she continues as usual, a second stroke will be imminent,” he said. Like Cabral, Chuanico advised Santiago to avoid anything that may anger her because she needs to be healthy in case she is called by the International Criminal Court in March. Following her doctors' instructions, Santiago’s spokesperson, Tom Tolibas, said the senator will no longer be available for media interviews starting Thursday until her blood pressure stabilizes. Santiago's office said the doctors’ comments were reported by a nurse named Elsie Gayo. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News