Gigi Reyes plea for bigger hospital opposed

Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecutors on Monday opposed the plea of Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes for a bigger hospital, saying her motion is already a “plea for special treatment.”

“Reyes’ motion is essentially a plea for special treatment,” the comment opposition filed before the Sandiganbayan on Monday read.

The prosecuting panel also said it found it difficult to believe Reyes’ claims that she was suffering from panic attacks, hypertension and palpitations.

“While the prosecution is not unmindful of Reyes’ situation, under the circumstances, it has difficulty accepting her allegations as true,” the comment opposition read.

The prosecutors added that Reyes’ condition is “hardly compelling” for her to be transferred to a tertiary hospital.

“Contrary to Reyes’ presentations, there is no need to be transferred to a tertiary hospital or to a detention facility with a tertiary hospital nearby,” the motion read.

They added that Reyes’ condition can be placed under control even in a non-tertiary hospital.

The prosecutors also said Reyes was only transferred to the Philippine Heart Center, a tertiary hospital, only for evaluation.

“It bears stressing that Reyes’ transfer to the Philippine Heart Center without a court order was not reported as preceded by any emergency,” the motion read.

The prosecutors pointed out that when Reyes was temporarily detained at the Sandiganbayan jail, she was not complaining of any illnesses.

The prosecutor noted that when Reyes’ motion to be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center was denied, Reyes had her first health incident and was rushed to the hospital.

The panel was referring to the incident when Reyes was rushed to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital just hours after she arrived at the Taguig city jail in Camp Bagong Diwa. Reyes claimed to have suffered a severe panic attack.

Also, when her motion she refiled to be transferred to the PNP Custodial Center was held in abeyance by the court pending the prosecution’s comment, Reyes was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center supposedly due to chest pains.

“It is apparent that Reyes refuses to be held in Camp Bagong Diwa and is prepared to wrest control over such matters from the court,” the motion added.

Reyes, the former aide of co-accused Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in the pork barrel scam case, surrendered to the court after an arrest warrant was issued for her plunder case.

Reyes was ordered transferred from the Sandiganbayan jail to Camp Bagong Diwa. She was transferred Wednesday night, but she was eventually rushed to the Taguig hospital hours after on Thursday dawn.

A day after, Reyes was again transferred to the Philippine Heart Center, where she is currently confined at the intensive care unit.

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