Napoles allowed to undergo surgery

MANILA, Philippines—A Makati court gave the alleged mastermind behind the pork barrel scam, Janet Lim Napoles, permission on Friday to undergo surgery, but not at the hospital of her choice.

In a five-page order, Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court  Branch 150 allowed Napoles to get hospital treatment for a uterine cyst but ruled that it be in a government hospital, rather than at the posh St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig city as Napoles’ camp had requested in a March 3 motion.

“After diligently ascertaining the facts, the averments in the motions and the testimonies given… the court finds sufficient basis to grant the motion. However, the request of the accused that she should undergo surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center should be modified. Instead, the court directs that the accused will undergo surgical operation at the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), a government hospital situated within the territorial jurisdiction of this court,” Alameda said.

Alameda found OsMak “a workable solution to the contrasting views” of Napoles’ camp and of the prosecution.

Alameda made the decision based on earlier recommendations by Philippine National Police doctor Michelle Daguno, and Dr. Santiago A. del Rosario, head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Makati Medical Center.

“Although surgery is not urgent at this time as testified by Dr. Daguno, advancing the schedule of her surgical operation as pleaded by the accused herself would be beneficial to her health since the cyst in her uterus, which she claims to be the source of her excruciating pain, would be removed,” Alameda said.

All hospital bills for her surgery and confinement will be shouldered by Napoles, Alameda said.

Napoles is currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, for a serious illegal detention charge filed in Alameda’s sala by Napoles’ cousin, former employee, and primary pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.