The president of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) and three-time presidential candidate on that party’s ticket, says he has another malignant tumor in his abdomen, less than two years after the first one was removed from the same area. After returning from the U.S. amidst rampant speculation on the state of his health, Dr. Peña Gomez spoke to the nation on 6 September, saying that doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation detected “signs of a resurgence” of cancer. At that same medical center Dr. Peña Gomez had a malignant tumor, together with his spleen, removed on 5 October 1994.
During a speech that lasted almost three hours, Dr. Peña Gomez announced that he would be making trips to mainland China and Japan, to receive “alternative treatment” for his ailment before undergoing surgery to remove the cancer if it is still found in his abdomen.
Dr. Peña Gomez also touched upon the issues of current Dominican politics, particularly the proposal of his party to reduce the current requirement of 50% plus one vote to win a presidential or congressional election, which forced a run-off in the 1996 vote, to 40%. He also blamed much of his illness on the stress of three presidential campaigns in six years, and the alleged personal campaign of slander against him by his political adversaries.
Before traveling to the Far East, Dr. Peña Gomez was to attend a meeting of the International Socialists, of which he is the vice-president and president for Latin America. After returning from his trip to Asia, Dr. Peña Gomez will undergo surgery to remove his cancerous tumor if it is still found to be present.
Vicente Sanchez Baret was named interim president of the PRD in Dr. Peña Gomez’s absence, with Hugo Tolentino Dipp as president in functions and Hatuey de Camps as general secretary.