Colombia’s Vice President, Angelino Garzon, states Monday that he is willing to abdicate his role as Vice President due to the detection of a prostate tumor.
“I am fully aware that I have to leave in the hands of the Constitution and the law everything that has to do with the present and future of the Vice President of Colombia,” Garzon said in a communique Monday morning, just two weeks after Colombia’s President, Juan Manuel Santos, had surgery to remove a cancerous prostate tumor.
The Vice President claimed that a “microscopic non-aggressive tumor” was found by a doctor during his recovery therapy from surviving a stroke in June. He explained that he has been advised to undergo radiotherapy in order to remove the tumor. The radiotherapy will consist of 39 sessions at least five times a week for Garzon.
“On October 29 I will be 66 years old and at this stage of my life, I insist, I cannot hold on to the post of Vice President,” declared Garzon.
In an interview with Caracol Radio, an oncology expert said that Garzon has a high probability of recovering from the cancer after radiotherapy.
The tumor detection follows much debate about the health condition and capability of Garzon to fullfill his role as Vice President. Discussion was instigated after the Vice President suffered a serious stroke in June and had been recovering slowly. Garzon had previously refused to submit to medical exams that were ordered by the Senate to verify his health condition.
President Santos also suffered from a prostate tumor but underwent surgery on October 3 soon after the announcement. The President is allegedly recovered and continues to do well after the surgery.