Court: Napoles can’t stay at Ospital ng Makati

Janet Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 ordered the return of Janet Lim Napoles to her detention facility in Fort Sto. Domingo on or before May 23.

In an order released Tuesday, Judge Elmo Alameda said Napoles’s motion for extended stay at the Ospital ng Makati lacks merit.

Napoles, in her motion, said she needs to have a complete bed rest for a speedy and full recovery. She also said it would be convenient for her, her doctors and security personnel if she stays at the hospital for her routine check-up.

Her lawyers also said that Napoles needs a more conducive place to finish her amended pork barrel list.

But the court said it sees no more medical reason to allow Napoles to stay.

The court took note of the testimony of Dr. Ismael Peralta who told the court that the attending physicians have already issued a discharge order for Napoles “which means the accused can now function fully with all her vital signs working in a home setting.”

He also said that Napoles can leave even with unpaid hospital bills as long as she executes a promissory note.

Also, after her once-a-week post-operative check-up including psychological exam after undergoing total hysterectomy last April, the doctor said the post succeeding check-ups in the coming months can be done in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna.

“As a preventive measure, the court directed Dr. [Magnolia Ruth Priscilla] Bermudez (in Fort Sto. Domingo) to take all precautionary measures to prevent the patient from contracting infection by seeing to it that she will not be exposed to elements like dirty environment and to make her comfortable as possible,” the court said.

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