Court allows Ivler to undergo surgery to reverse colostomy

MANILA, Philippines – A Quezon City court has allowed road rage murder suspect Jason Ivler to undergo surgery to reverse his colostomy on condition that he first deposit P500,000 with the court as a guarantee of payment.

Judge Luisito Cortez of regional trial court Branch 84 gave the defense five days to comply with this condition which is among other requirements before the accused can go under the knife again.

Aside from the P500,000 deposit, the court ordered Ivler to submit proof of payment of the Nov. 24, 2011 bill from the Quirino Memorial Medical Center amounting to P17,325.

The four-page order also specified that the deposit will answer for any unpaid bills after the medical confinement and medical procedure as well as professional fees.

The excess in the amount, if any, will be released to the accused or named depositor.

Also, Cortez ordered Ivler’s camp to deposit the amount of P30,000, representing the fine imposed against Ivler’s mother, Marlene Aguilar, by Judge Bayani Vargas of RTC Branch 219 for contempt.

The order for Ivler’s confinement was finally issued more than a year after the accused had repeatedly asked to be allowed to undergo surgery to reverse his colostomy so that he could defecate normally.

The court noted that it had the occasion to observe the physical condition of the accused during the hearings of the case and see the inconvenience including the recurrence of infections.

“The court also finds that based on the testimony of Dr. Abary, the proper and a fortune time is this coming yuletide season; that taking consideration the present good physical condition of accused, the medical procedure will be more successful as there is no barring complication setting in. Thus, the earlier the medical procedure to be undertaken, the better and faster the chance of accused for his recovery and shorten his stay in the hospital.”

Ivler’s attending physician at the QMMC, Dr. Romeo Abary, conducted two medical check-ups on him and recommended the immediate reversal of his patient’s colostomy to address a stomach infection.

The operation may take up to five hours and the hospital confinement may last up to two weeks, barring any complications.

Abary revealed in court that Ivler incurred an amount of P250,000 in unpaid bills from his two major operations since Jan. 2010 due to his gunshot wounds.

Ivler is facing murder charges for the death of Renator Victor Ebarle Jr – son and namesake of a former Palace official during the Arroyo administration – in an alleged vehicular incident on a road in Quezon City on Nov. 18, 2009. His lawyers have submitted to the court proof of payment which showed that the accused paid the QMMC and his doctors P550,077.

Other conditions set by the court include that the hearings will continue even during Ivler’s absence as he recuperates, and that Ivler can choose a doctor to assist Abary during the surgery at his own expense.

The court also allowed the accused to be confined in a separate cell or room near the infirmary of the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City during his recuperation.

Cortez also directed Abary to prepare the list of doctors who will carry out the procedure, as well as the necessary medical facilities and secured room to be used by Ivler, and to submit the proposed date of operation.

Senior Inspector John Conrad of the Metro Manila District Jail was also tasked to inform the court of the doctors on duty at Camp Bagong Diwa who could attend to Ivler’s needs, to coordinate with Abary on the transfer to the QMMC, and to provide round-the-clock security.

The court said it would issue the Order of Transfer for Medical Confinement once Ivler has paid the hospital bill of P17,325.00; the deposit of P500,000 and the fine of P30,000 imposed on his mother.