MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Denied bail and suffering from “profuse menstrual bleeding” and “severe abdominal pains,” alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles stepped outside the confines of her detention center in Laguna for the first time this year on Wednesday, February 26.

Napoles is visiting the Camp Crame General Hospital to undergo a battery of medical examinations to determine the cause of her ailments.

Two convoys, consisting mostly of police, left Fort Sto Domingo in Sta Rosa, Laguna, where she is currently detained, for Crame: the first one at past 6 am, then a second one just before 7 am. The convoys arrived at around 7 and 8 am, respectively.

Over 100 members of the Philippine National Police were involved in the transfer, which is estimated to cost the government around P120,000, based on previous transfers.

Napoles’ family members were not part of the convoy, PNP spokesperson Theodore Sindac said, but they can opt to meet her there.

She will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, as well as several other blood tests. Doctors at Camp Crame will administer the exams, but her personal doctors will also be present, her camp told media on Monday, February 24.

Doctors who conducted her initial physical exam declared Napoles “healthy,” but blood extraction was delayed a bit after that because the legal counsel and attending physician were late. They were needed at the blood extraction were needed for “transparency,” Health Services director Chief Supt Alejandro Advincula said.

Napoles also complained of pain on the left side of her chest, as well as pain on her right index finger, he said.

Around 2-3 doctors from the PNP will be present during the medical examinations. Her private doctors will also be allowed to accompany her.

Her return to Fort Sto Domingo will depend on how the tests come out, Advincula said. “If she needs more time in the hospital, we will give her that.” He added that the check-ups could extend beyond 1 pm if the counsel and physician come late.

Sindac said the approximate cost of the exams will be P3,000, but said he is not sure if government will shoulder the expenses.

Napoles is currently detained in Fort. Sto Domingo, a Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) camp. Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim face serious illegal detention charges for allegedly holding pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy captive from December 2013 to January 2013. Lim is still at large.

Last week, Napoles through her lawyers filed an urgent motion to conduct medical examination before a Makati court. The court granted Napoles’ motion, allowing her to undergo medical tests in the Camp Crame General Hospital and not in St. Luke’s Medical Center as she earlier requested.

Napoles previously left jail in September 2013 to appear during her arraignment, and in November 2013 to face the Senate investigation on the pork barrel scam.

Medical woes

This is not first time medical issues took center stage in Napoles’ surrender and eventual detention. When she surrendered to the president in August 2013, her camp requested special facilities to accommodate her medication for Type II diabetes.

On October 24, 2013, Napoles was rushed to the Southern Luzon Medical Center in Laguna because of vomiting and severe abdominal pains. A CT Scan taken during her time in the hospital revealed an ovarian tumor.

Test also showed elevated CA-125 levels in her blood. CA-125 is a marker used to detect certain types of cancer.

If all goes to plan, the trip outside Fort Sto. Domingo will be short-lived. Dr. Angelo Michael Luna, Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) Medical Officer told the court that it would take “around one day” to complete all tests. Sindac said they expect the medical exams to be done by noon.

Her camp earlier ask the court for medical exams in St. Luke’s because they could not be taken in Fort. Sto Domingo “for lack of facilities.” But during his testimony, Luna said there was “no difference” between the facilities of Camp Crame and St. Luke’s.

The recommendation for Napoles to take more medical examinations were made months ago on December 19, 2013 by Dr. Elsie Badillo Pascua, Napoles’ OB-GYN.

Pascua recommended Napoles undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, a CBC test, a repeat CA-125 test, as well as HE-45, CA19-9, PTT and PT tests.

Napoles, however, decided to wait it out in hopes that her motion to be granted bail would be granted. She also did not want to worry her family and attract even more attention from media, special counsel Bruce Rivera told Rappler.

The motion for bail was denied by Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court in November 2013. In February 2014, Alameda denied Napoles’ motion for reconsideration for the bail plea.

Hospital arrest?

The series of medical woes have led the public to wonder: Will Napoles seek hospital arrest?

Her previous counsel Lorna Kapunan denied the speculation months after her surrender. Kapunan in October 2013 told reporters her client would not go for a “wheelchair defense.”

Kapunan has since resigned as Napoles’ lawyer for the serious illegal detention case, with collaborating counsel Alfredo Villamor taking on the lead role. A different set of lawyers is handling Napoles’ motion for medical examination.

Rivera said it will be up to Pascua to recommend “further action.” “[Pascua will determine] whether [Napoles] would need further tests, hospitalization or if she needs to return to Fort Sto. Domingo because there’s nothing wrong,” Rivera told reporters after the hearing for the motion.

Judge Alameda granted the motion the same day as the hearing, where 4 doctors came to testify.

Pascua is referred to in the motion as “the trusted OB-GYN of [Napoles].” During her testimony before the Makati court, however, Pascua said she has yet to meet the controversial figure.

She said she only made recommendations based on the examination of Napoles’ blood, urine, and serum. – Rappler.com