Bong Revilla allowed an overnight stay at St. Luke’s
MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan first division on Thursday granted Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s request for an overnight stay in St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig.
In a resolution, the division said it granted Revilla’s motion to have overnight medical tests for “humanitarian” reasons.
“After going over the arguments of the parties, the Court is inclined to grant the motion for humanitarian considerations over the objection of the prosecution,” the resolution read.
Senator Bong Revilla. INQUIRER file photo
The court said the check-up is scheduled for November 17, at 6 p.m. until November 18 at 12 noon.
The medical tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiogram of the brain, plain lumbosacral MRI, cardiac work-up, electrocardiography and 2D-Echo, stress test, and blood chemistry.
The Philippine National Police, in coordination with the Sandiganbayan’s sheriff, is directed to provide security escorts for Revilla, the resolution read.
In a statement earlier in the day, Revilla said he would be willing to endure his illnesses of migraines, cold and coughs if the court junks his motion.
He also denied that his motion is a prelude to hospital detention.
“There is no mention of hospital arrest in my motion. This was only invented and blown out of proportions by the prosecutors,” Revilla said in Filipino.
“If the court does not allow me, I am left with no option but to face my illness even if it worsens and results in my death…. It is only right if they allow me to find the remedy to my illness. But if they don’t, I can’t do anything but to endure my illness,” he added.
State prosecutors opposed Revilla’s motion, saying the detained lawmaker may instead be an outpatient instead of spending the night in the hospital.
They also said the supposed ailment of Revilla – persistent migraines and cough and colds – was diagnosed by his personal physician and not by a government doctor.
“Revilla has not been examined by a government physician who can verify and attest to the fact that he is indeed suffering from the medical conditions and that he must undergo further medical check-up and diagnostic tests,” they said.
In a manifestation filed before the anti-graft’s first division, Revilla has asked the court to allow him to have overnight medical check-up and consultation on November 17.
Dr. Ma. Cristina Macrohon-Valdez, in a medical certificate attached to the plea, said she was recommending “a full medical work-up and consultation with other respective specialists as soon as possible…so as to prevent further complications.”
The certificate said Revilla is “complaining of coughs and colds associated with generalized body malaise for one week duration on top of recurrent migraine headaches.”
In an earlier check-up, Revilla was diagnosed to have the following medical problems: migraine headache, lumbo-sacral radiculopathy secondary to spondylosis, hypertension not well-controlled, and dyslipidemia.
Revilla had asked the court for him to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for his persistent migraines.
Revilla faces plunder and graft charges for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, the purported diversion of senators’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to ghost projects for kickbacks. He is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center with fellow co-accused Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is in hospital detention for plunder.
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