JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday faced the media for the first time since he took a 10-day wellness leave and announced he underwent a heart bypass surgery and may go back to work next week.
Remulla said the seven-hour procedure took place on June 27, a day after he started his wellness leave, and was back home by July 3.
He added his doctors told him he must undergo the procedure after his physical examination the week before showed heart blockage.
“Ang suwerte ko lang, never ako inaatake… or na-stroke. Kaya ang suwerte ko lang nakita talaga itong mga bara na pwedeng maging cause ng atake (I’m very fortunate that I never had a heart attack or a stroke. I’m fortunate that the blockage that could cause heart attack was seen),” the 62-year old Remulla said in a press briefing.
Remulla disclosed that his health condition may have been affected by the fact that he was a smoker for 30 years before he stopped in January 2010.
Remulla said he is undergoing physical rehabilitation sessions which he said is a must for someone who has been intubated, which results in weakened lungs.
However, he said, he is doing fine.
“That’s why I am doing physical therapy and so far so good. My voice is very clear, my mind is very clear,” he said, adding he could even “technically” return to work already but since his wellness leave has yet to end, he would most likely be back on July 10.
“Next week by Monday, I am back to work but I cannot keep on going here. I have to be careful. I will be meeting the leadership on Monday, all the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to give directions, orders that are needed to be issued,” Remulla said.
Remulla said despite his health condition, the thought of resigning never crossed his mind.
“Never. I serve at the pleasure of the President. And I will continue to discharge my functions as long as the President believes in my capability to lead the department,” he said.
He said he has talked with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. about his condition and the latter told him he told me to focus first on recovering.
“He is very happy that I made the decision, that I did to go through the procedure, and to come out of it very well and I thank the President for the trust and confidence given me,” he added.
Remulla also said his absence has no effect on the day-to-day operations of the DOJ, which also oversees several other agencies such as the Bureau of Corrections, Land Registration Authority, Board of Pardons and Parole, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
“None. There is videoconferencing,” he said.
Remulla has designated Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez as officer-in-charge while he is on wellness leave.
