Janet Lim-Napoles: ‘At risk of cancer’. Contributed Photo by Philippine National Police Public Information Office
MANILA, Philippines—The head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Makati Medical Center testified Tuesday that Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam, was suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding and if left unattended could lead to cancer.
Dr. Santiago del Rosario told the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 that while the results of Napoles’ medical examinations last Dec. 19 and Feb. 26 showed that her hemoglobin levels were within the normal range, comparing her blood counts from October to December 2013 indicated that she had lost two liters of blood from bleeding.
Napoles, 50, has asked Judge Elmo Alameda to allow her to undergo surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, for her six-centimeter cyst in the uterus.
Chief Insp. Michelle Daguno, a Philippine National Police doctor, testified in a previous hearing that Napoles was suffering from a uterine myoma, which explained the abnormal bleeding and severe abdominal pain the businesswoman had been experiencing.
“Abnormal bleeding must be coming from somewhere, not just myoma. There should be more tests as the bleeding becomes serial,” Del Rosario testified.
A former president of the Philippine Medical Association and an OB-GYN doctor for 50 years, Del Rosario said he was requested by Napoles’ family to testify.
“Yes, (Napoles) needs medical help in my medical opinion, especially when newspapers said she was bleeding for one month. Myoma with bleeding commands attention especially with women of middle age,” he said.
Del Rosario noted that bleeding could lead to cancer. “And when cancer is part of the doctors’ impression, a delay can spell the difference between a cure and no cure,” he said.
But the prosecution questioned Del Rosario’s opinion.
There was confusion during the hearing when blood samples were presented under the name of “Jenny Tan.” Defense lawyer Faye Isaguirre Singson said Jenny Tan and Janet Lim-Napoles were one and the same person. She said the Napoles family deemed it prudent to use Jenny Tan at that time for security reasons.
Another hearing was set on March 21 to look into the laboratory results of Napoles under a different name.
Alameda issued a subpoena to Dr. Romeo Aguirre of Accucell Diagnostic Center in Antipolo City, who signed the document showing the Napoles test results that Del Rosario presented. Prosecutor Christopher Garvida told reporters that Del Rosario was “misled.”
Napoles is being held at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna province for serious illegal detention charges. She allegedly held captive for three months her personal aide, Benhur Luy, who had threatened to reveal her alleged racket. Luy has turned state witness in the pork barrel case against Napoles.