Napoles asks court for extended hospital stay

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 11 years ago

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles on Wednesday asked the local court to extend her hospital stay due to heavy bleeding.

Napoles, through her lawyer, petitioned Judge Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 of the Makati City regional trial court to recall and reconsider his May 20 ruling ordering her return to Fort Sto Domingo on or before May 23.

Napoles’ doctors have made an appeal that their patient be allowed to stay at the Ospital ng Makati, where she has been confined since her surgery in April, following a relapse that have resulted in extensive bleeding.

In a progress report submitted to the court signed by Doctors Elsie Pascua and Efren Domingo, they said Napoles started complaining of vaginal spotting on May 17.

“She was referred to us on May 19. We ordered oral Tranexamic Acid and bed rest. We conducted the check up today [May 20]. Vaginal vault is soft, filled up with about 10 to 20cc fresh, red blood clots and liquid blood,” the doctors said in the progress report.

“We ordered intravenous fluid and Tranexamic acid, 1 gram every 5 hours. Complete bed rest. Avoidance of straining and lifting and stress. Will visit her and do pelvic examination regularly. We recommend continuation of hospital stay,” the doctors said.

Napoles’ motion came a day after the same court ordered her return to Fort Sto. Domingo.

The court issued the ruling after her doctors recommended that she could function fully “with all her vital signs working in a home setting.”

The court will hear Napoles’ urgent motion on Friday.

Napoles is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly masterminding the P10 billion pork barrel scam. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of plunder against her, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada before the Sandiganbayan although it has been stalled due to pending motions for reconsideration which has to be resolved first by the Ombudsman.

She is also facing a case for serious illegal detention before the Makati court for detaining her nephew and whistle blower Benhur Luy from December 2012 to March 2013. He was rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation in a condominium unit at the Pacific Plaza Tower in Bonifacio Global City.