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[av_heading heading=’JUST ANOTHER DAY ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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AND YOU thought you’ve seen it all. We’ve had wheelchairs, neck braces, surgery in Hong Kong, a botched liposuction job, knee surgeries, attached to intravenous drips, old age, menopause, the dog died, etc. but this one tops them all.
Politicians resort to just about any gimmick depending on them or their staff’s creativity to avoid, if possible, jail time or to gain sympathy during congressional hearings or impeachments – anything to appear as the downtrodden underdog.
Of course, we all know the moment they’re exonerated or released from detention they suddenly are in the pink of health and much stronger physically.
The latest to come out with her own style of theatrics is embattled former Secretary of the Department of Health Janette Garin. Her weapon of choice: “acute appendicitis.”
Of course, we can give her the benefit of the doubt that she really is suffering from acute appendicitis, after all she is supposed to be a medical doctor.
But really, the timing is uncanny.
And what brought about this sudden attack of acute appendicitis to Janette Garin?
Here are excerpts from the Dec. 9 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer:
Garin asks docs to delay appendicitis operation to attend Senate hearing
Former Health Secretary Janette Garin has been confined in a private hospital since Friday morning due to acute appendicitis.
Speaking through her staff Nancy Almasco, Garin, 44, said she would try to ask her doctors to delay her operation so she could attend on Monday the hearing of the controversial anti-dengue immunization drive that she implemented when she was Health secretary.
“She would like to have a media interview but her present condition prohibits her from doing so. In fact, her doctors have advised her not to do things that could cause any stress,” Almasco said.
She said Garin experienced severe abdominal pain on Friday and was rushed immediately to the Divine Word Hospital where her doctors discovered she was suffering from acute appendicitis.
She would like to ask her doctors if (it’s possible for her not to undergo operations) because she wants to attend the hearing this Monday.
Garin wished to have the operation done in Tacloban and will face any media interview once she has fully recovered.
***
The Senate hearing started Monday, Dec. 11 and as expected Janette Garin was in attendance and was an active participant despite the acute appendicitis.
For the uninitiated, lest you be lost in translation, here are a couple of definitions courtesy of that free online encyclopedia:
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Severe complications of a ruptured appendix include widespread, painful inflammation of the inner lining of the abdominal wall and sepsis.
Acute – (Of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree.
Moi watched the entire proceedings at the Senate on Monday and focused mostly on Janette Garin, particularly her body language, facial expressions and her tone and manner of speaking.
If it was not announced on media that she was suffering from acute appendicitis and she didn’t have that “thingy” attached to her arm (for emphasis?), any sensible person would think that Janette Garin was not suffering from acute appendicitis or any illness at all; that she was a “fashion victim” is an entirely different form of malady.
Of course, anybody can argue that moi is not a qualified medical doctor to make a diagnosis of what ails Janette Garin just by watching her performance on live television.
Most probably. But moi never made any diagnosis; it was an observation. The conclusion was based on what was seen on live television, and it appeared that Janette Garin was in the pink of health.
Anybody suffering from acute appendicitis based on the illness’ meaning and symptoms would not dare delay the surgery as the consequence when the appendix ruptures would be quite fatal.
Of course, Janette Garin who is supposed to be a medical doctor would know that and most probably would strictly advise the patient not to leave the hospital.
You’re suffering from abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, moi can imagine what it feels like travelling from Tacloban to Manila, quite uncomfortable to say the least.
That Monday at the Senate hearing Janette Garin appeared comfortable and not distressed at all. One can only conclude that either she had tremendous tolerance of pain, or she was a very good actor on the level of Nora Aunor, or worse, that she was a pretty good liar.
This Senate hearing is just the tip of the investigation in the P3.5-billion worth inadvertent genocide of 700,000 school children who were used as unwitting “guinea pigs” when they were vaccinated by that experimental drug Dengvaxia (manufactured by French pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur) courtesy of the Department of Health headed then by Janette Garin.
The other principal cast of characters in this inadvertent genocide are former President Noynoy Aquino, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and former Finance secretary Cesar Purisima. One can just imagine what their gimmicks will be when called for an investigation. Perhaps a plea of insanity or a sudden attack of diarrhea, which should present no problem as former Senate President Franklin Drilon has a few million pesos worth stash of toilet paper. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com)/PN
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