Nov 012013
 
President Benigno Aquino on Friday night paid his respects to the late former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, who died at age 84 last Thursday.

Aquino went to the Mount Carmel Shrine Parish in Quezon City, according to a post on his Facebook account. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed Aquino’s visit.

“He visited the memorial of the former Chief Justice last night,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio Saturday morning.

The photo posted on Aquino’s Facebook page showed him wearing a striped shirt, standing in front of the urn bearing Narvasa’s ashes.

But Valte said she may have to inquire with Aquino on the possibility of a posthumous award for Narvasa.

Narvasa passed away early Thursday at age 84. The Supreme Court said he was the country’s 19th Chief Justice.

He served as Chief Justice from Dec. 8, 1991 to Nov. 30, 1998, and as defense counsel of then President Joseph Estrada in his impeachment trial in 2000.

Also, he was a former dean of the University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Civil Law.

Before joining the high court, Narvasa was the general counsel of the Agrava fact-finding board that investigated the assassination of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., incumbent President Aquino’s father.  — LBG, GMA News

Jun 242013
 
Stem cell treatment seen as likely cause of three politicians' deaths

Three politicians from Mindanao had reportedly died after receiving stem cell treatment in Germany, although it was not established yet if the deaths were directly connected to the treatment, the head of the biggest association of doctors in the country said Monday. According to Leo Olarte of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the politicians may have died due to “anaphylactic shock” following a hypersensitivity reaction to the stem cells from animals, especially sheep. Anaphylaxis is a deadly allergic reaction that causes difficulty in breathing and sudden drop in blood pressure. “Kapag ikaw ay nabigyan ng stem cell galing sa tupa, aatakihin ng katawan ‘yan kasi ito ay hindi inherent sa katawan… Magkakaroon ng hypersensitivity reaction na magdudulot ng anaphylactic shock sa pasyente,” Olarte said in a phone interview with GMA News Online. He also cited possible death due to delayed graft function, which is a complication after an organ transplantation. The politicians, who were not identified as requested by their families, had illnesses in the lungs, heart and liver before the treatment, Olarte said. However, he was quick to add that it has yet to be proven if the stem cell treatment was the real cause of the three politicians’ deaths. “Ito ay mga hearsay pa lang,” he said. “Baka naman namatay dahil sa kanilang orihinal na sakit.” He said the families of the deceased are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police for further investigation. Treatments in hotels Meanwhile, Olarte urged the public to Read More …