Erap back in ICU due to lung infection

Former president Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada has been brought back to the intensive care unit for non-COVID patients due to a lung infection according to his son, former senator Jinggoy Estrada.

“We wish to announce that my father had a slight set back last night as his doctors found a super imposed bacterial lung infection,” Jinggoy said in a Facebook post.

“He has been brought back to the regular ICU (non covid) for monitoring and support of his blood pressure which fluctuated due to the said infection.”

He added that “overall, he is stable with high flow oxygen support.”

Erap’s son, former senator JV Ejercito also asked for prayers for his father in a Twitter post.

Asking once again for prayers for my father as he was brought back to the ICU again.

— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) April 16, 2021

The former president was admitted last month to the hospital after contracting COVID-19. After being intubated for a time and put on ventilator support, the 83-year-old Estrada recovered and tested negative for COVID-19 on April 13.

Estrada was elected as the country’s 13th president in 1998 but was not able to finish his term after he was ousted in 2001 over corruption allegations.

He was convicted by the Sandiganbayan in 2007 for plunder, but was pardoned by his successor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Prior to the presidency, he served as Mayor of Manila City from 2013 to 2019.