Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada is now on mechanical ventilation after his COVID-19 pneumonia worsened, his son former Senator Jinggoy Estrada said.
“Yesterday, my father’s condition suffered a setback as his pneumonia worsened,” the younger Estrada said on Facebook.
“Because of this and the resulting increase in oxygen requirement, his doctors decided to place him on mechanical ventilation. This was done to improve oxygen delivery as well as to prevent the tiring of his respiratory mechanism,” he added.
Jinggoy once again asked the public for prayers for Erap’s recovery.
“My father has always been a fighter and I hope that with the help of your prayers he will win this battle. Please continue praying for his immediate recovery,” Jinggoy said.
Erap Estrada now on mechanical ventilation after pneumonia worsened
The former president was transferred to ICU on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. He was already 83 years old.
In 2007, Estrada was sentenced by a special division of the Sandiganbayan to reclusión Perpetua for the plunder of $80 million from the government but was later granted a pardon by President and his former deputy Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Erap Estrada ran for president again in the 2010 presidential election but was defeated by Senator Benigno Aquino III by a wide margin. He later served as Mayor of Manila for two terms, from 2013 to 2019.
In August 2020, Erap Estrada’s close friend and also former Manila Mayor Alfredo died of COVID-19.
In his Facebook post Erap Estrada then said: “Ako po ay nalulungkot sa pagpanaw ng isang magiting na alkalde ng Maynila, Mayor Alfredo Lim. Naging magkatunggali man kami sa pulitika, alam ko na iisa lang ang aming hangarin, ang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang mahihirap nating mga kababayan, lalo na ang masang Manilenyo. Hinding-hindi ka malilimutan ng Maynila. Rest in peace, Mayor Lim! (I am saddened by the death of a brave leader, Mayor Alfredo Lim. We may be political rivals, but I know that we have the same aspiration, that is to give our poor people a better life. Manila will never forget you. Rest in Peace, Mayor Lim)”.