Senator Loren Legarda’s Statement on Her Absence from the Impeachment Trial

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA TODAY SAID SHE IS ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE WEEK’S PLENARY SESSION AND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AS SHE IS STILL IN THE UNITED STATES ATTENDING TO HER “NANAY FELY”, WHO RECENTLY UNDERWENT COLORECTAL SURGERY.
Legarda said that since last year she had already informed Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that her nanay Felicidad Bagayas has colon cancer and needs to undergo operation. Thus, the Senator requested for a leave of absence from January 16 to 19, 2012.
“As the eldest, only woman and caregiver in the family, I am taking care of my 78-year-old nanay, my lifelong nanny, who is still recovering from a colorectal surgery at Stanford Hospital, California. My nanay has been a most loyal, hardworking and loving Ilocana, who selflessly took care of me from birth and my sons too. For over 60 years, she has devoted her life for my family and has become a second mother to me,” she stated in her letter to the Senate President.
She further stated that “I will continue to monitor our legislative sessions and the impeachment trial via live streaming and through reports from my staff.”
Legarda said she will participate in the impeachment proceedings as soon as she returns to the country.