Doctors cancel Wycoco press conference as he remains in coma

Physicians attending to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Reynaldo Wycoco, who suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm late Wednesday morning, begged off from holding a press conference yesterday on his condition.

The doctors canceled the press conference that was scheduled at 2 p.m. yesterday, asking for a 24-hour extension, and issued a medical bulletin updating journalists on the condition of Wycoco, 59, who remains in a coma at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH).

At past 3 p.m., MDH public relations officer Marc Funelas distributed the second medical bulletin.

Dante Morales, Wycoco’s attending physician, said in a seven-line statement that "five neurosurgeons and neurologists do not find the indication and benefit to do surgical procedure."

After Wednesday evening’s assessment that the "prognosis is bad, but we are hopeful," Morales said yesterday the outlook for Wycoco’s recovery was "still grim, but still hopeful."

Wycoco’s security escort said his fingers moved yesterday, but Morales said he is not sure if the movement was "spontaneous or (a) misinterpretation."

President Arroyo is "following closely the condition of... Wycoco. She is saddened and concerned after being informed of the gravity of the situation and she joins the family in prayer," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

She visited Wycoco Wednesday night, hours after he collapsed in his office while having a snack with other NBI officials and some relatives. — With Paolo Romero