Jinggoy Estrada can go to hospital for shoulder pain – court

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, April 1, allowed detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada to seek treatment in a private hospital in San Juan City for the “unbearable pain” in his shoulder.

“After taking into account the arguments of both parties and for humanitarian considerations, the Court resolves to grant accused-movant’s prayer over the objection of the prosecution,” the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division said in its resolution.

Estrada filed an urgent motion before the court on March 30, seeking medical examination at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in San Juan City “on ground of increasing and unbearable pain at his left shoulder area.”

The court allowed Estrada to undergo the medical examination on Wednesday for 3 hours – from 3 pm to 6 pm – but under certain conditions.

These conditions are the following:

• Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, in coordination with the sheriffs of the court, should provide adequate personal escorts and security measures in all movements and dispositions of Estrada
• Estrada shall be transported to Cardinal Santos hospital not earlier then 3 pm, and cannot stay there beyond 6 pm; in case the treatment takes less than 3 hours, the PNP should not wait until 6 pm but immediately transport Estrada back to Camp Crame
• The PNP shall see to it that Estrada will not go to any place other than the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in Greenhills, San Juan City
• Estrada’s use of any means of communications and electronics (phones, cell phones, internet, etc), and those who will accompany him, shall be under the control and supervision of the detailed PNP security
• Media and other news interviews will not be allowed
• Estrada will shoulder all expenses incurred by the PNP in connection with the escorts and security measures in all movements and disposition of the detained senator outside Camp Crame, until his return to the detention facility 
• Estrada shall submit a medical certificate of the results of the examination within 5 days from April 1

The Sandiganbayan’s 5th Division had earlier allowed Estrada to attend his son’s high school graduation but not his request for a birthday furlough in February.

Estrada is charged with plunder and graft in connection with the pork barrel scam, a scheme where he and other public officials allegedly stole millions in lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) through fake projects implemented by bogus non-governmental organizations ran by alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.  – Rappler.com