MANILA, Philippine – Will alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles stay confined at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak)? Not for too long, if the court hearing her serious illegal detention charges could decide right away.

During the hearing for Napoles’ urgent motion to extend her stay in OsMak, presiding judge Elmo Alameda said “her stay is already overdue.”

Napoles was moved to the hospital on March 31 after Alameda allowed her to undergo surgery and confinement to remove a mass in her uterus. The complete hysterectomy was done on April 23.

Prior to moving, Napoles was detained at a police camp in Laguna for serious illegal detention charges.

In the motion, Napoles asked the court “to be granted further confinement thereat until such time that the series of her regular routinary medical check-ups are concluded.”

According to her doctors, Napoles needs to undergo regular check-ups once a week for one month, once every two weeks the month after, and once a month thereafter.

Cutting costs?

Alameda deferred judgment on the motion on Wednesday, after the prosecution insisted doctors be brought to testify on the need for the extension.

“You’re not in a position to interpret the medical certificate that the doctors issued,” Alameda told Rivera during the hearing.

Napoles’ team argued it was best to keep Napoles in OsMak, given her scheduled check-ups. Transferring her from Laguna to Makati several times over the next 6 months, said Rivera, would be too costly.

Prosecutor Chris Garvida, however, said one option was for Napoles’ doctors to visit Laguna to conduct check-ups. Alameda had the same suggestion during the hearing. “It would be more economical if the doctors are brought to Fort Sto Domingo and not vice versa,” he said. 

In an interview with reporters after the hearing, Rivera said Napoles’ check-ups require medical equipment not available in Fort Sto Domingo. “The wounds outside are easy to check, but the wounds inside… you need equipment for that. The wound inside is bigger,” Rivera said.

Her detention center, added Rivera, would not allow the best-post operative care. Napoles needs to undergo complete bed rest, and is not allowed to bend over.

The Philippine National Police earlier estimated it costs more than P100,000 to transfer Napoles from Laguna to Metro Manila. Rivera added that given issues surrounding the pork barrel scam, it might cost more to secure the controversial period.

The defense expressed apprehension over the short time they had to notify the doctors, and asked for an extension. Alameda, however, denied their request.

The motion will next be heard on May 15, Thursday, at 2:00 pm. Alameda ordered the prosecution to present OsMak Medical Director Dr Perry Peralta and Napoles’ personal ob-gyn Dr Elsie Badillo-Pascua during the continuation of the hearing.

“Let us settle this matter. The public is very much interested in this case! All eyes [are] on us,” Alameda said before resetting the hearing. – Rappler.com