Doctors place Bolante on ‘low-fat, low-cholesterol’ diet

MANILA, Philippines – On doctors' orders, former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante has been placed on a "low-fat, low cholesterol" diet at the St. Luke's Medical Center where he is currently staying, a radio report said. Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas on Friday reported that according to SLMC vice president for customer affairs Marilen Lagniton, Bolante - who was rushed to the hospital shortly after arriving in the country last Tuesday - was placed on the diet upon the recommendation of his doctors. On Thursday, Bolante's attending physician Romeo Saavedra said that while Bolante was in stable condition, he suffers from "atheromatous aorta and coronary arteries" or the hardening of blood vessels and the heart. Saavedra has also advised the former official not to receive visitors to avoid stress, adding that the former Agriculture official still has to undergo several tests to ensure that he is in good shape. Bolante was tagged as the engineer of a P728-million fertilizer fund mess where the funds were allegedly diverted to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidential campaign fund in 2004. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV