A political gathering of Unity Team candidates Mike Defensor, Edgardo Angara and Vic Magsaysay was disrupted Saturday night when Rep. Herminio Teves (3rd District, Oriental Negros) was rushed to the hospital after he appeared to suddenly lose consciousness and started to vomit.

The gathering at the Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City, which was attended by about 200 barangay captains and elected local officials of the second district of the province, was supposed to cap another hectic day of campaigning throughout the northern towns.

It was already after dinner and Magsaysay was done with his speech when Teves, 86, started shaking. Another congressman, Dr. Emilio Macias II, rushed to his aid and laid him on the floor, allowing him to vomit.

"I thought he had a stroke or a heart attack," Macias later recounted. "His eyes were closed and his pulse was weak."

Teves was rushed to the Holy Child Hospital where he was confined for the night.

Defensor, who gave a press conference Sunday morning, said that after the political gathering, the team Unity candidates visited Teves at the hospital and found him in high spirits.

Defensor quoted Teves as having told Magsaysay, "I had an attack when you mentioned that your wife is a Visayan." Teves said what happened was just a simple case of indigestion.

"He's okay. We're very happy," Defensor said.

Teves' daughter, Virginia Teves-Laurel, said her father was already out of the hospital and was expected to host a party for the Team Unity candidates Sunday evening.*AP

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