De Lima says mass in her liver ‘not malignant’

FILE: Senator Leila De Lima (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

After temporarily leaving her cell for a medical checkup, Senator Leila De Lima on Wednesday, March 14, welcomed the result of her CT scan showing that the mass earlier found in her liver was “not malignant” or cancerous.

“I have received the results of my CT scan and am very grateful that the impression of a ‘liver mass’ detected from my checkup last February 15 is not malignant,” De Lima said in a statement.

The detained senator said this result only means that there is no need for her to undergo an operation. She also assured her supporters that there is “nothing to worry about” her condition.

“I thank God for this blessing, and my family, friends, and supporters for their prayers and concern. I thank Fr Robert Reyes for joining us…. As I said, there is nothing to worry about,” the senator said.

Earlier this month, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 allowed De Lima to leave her detention cell at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame to go through a medical checkup at the Philippine Heart Center.

Cited in the court’s order dated March 6, De Lima’s personal physician, Dr. Errol Rhett Santelices, prescribed that she should immediately undergo further examination, particularly a CT scan of a liver after finding an impression of a liver mass.

Responding to this order, the senator left the Philippine National Police Custodial Center for a one-day medical furlough on March 12.

De Lima, President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critic, has been detained for over a year for her alleged involvement in a drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) when she was still serving as Justice secretary.

This accusation was, however, denied by the senator, saying that the Duterte’s administration was merely fabricating stories against her.