MANILA, Philippines–“Kuryente” isn’t going to join “Sexy” and “Pogi” anytime soon.
The Sandiganbayan on Monday ordered the detention of former Apec Rep. Edgar Valdez to a regular jail facility in Bicutan, Taguig City, a week after he surrendered following his indictment in the P10-billion pork barrel racket.
However, Valdez got a reprieve after the antigraft court’s Fifth Division said its order would be held in abeyance until his physical condition has improved.
In a three-page resolution, the court ordered officials of Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, where the former lawmaker had been admitted shortly after his surrender on Feb. 25, to report on his condition in the next two days.
“Once his condition improves, the order of commitment shall take effect,” it added.
The court rejected for lack of merit Valdez’s plea to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame due to his medical condition. Instead, the court sent Valdez to the jail facility at Camp Bagong Diwa.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla are detained at the Camp Crame facility, also for their alleged role in the multibillion-peso fund scam allegedly drawn up by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
Whistle-blowers had claimed that Valdez, whose group represented electric cooperatives in the House of Representatives, was known as “Kuryente” (electricity) in Napoles’ records while Estrada was identified as “Sexy” and Revilla was codenamed “Pogi” (handsome).
The court noted that the medical certificate that Valdez attached to his petition was issued in July 2013 and did not bear the signature of his supposed personal physician, Dr. Remo Tito Aguilar.
Valdez told the court that he was suffering from diabetes and lumbosacral spondylosis which required him to be under the care of medical personnel.
“The fact stated therein cannot… be simply taken as true. While it has been stated that the accused was diagnosed with lumbosacral spondylosis, there is no clear indication that his purported medical condition may be aggravated or become life threatening,” the court ruled.
It said Valdez’s claim that he was afflicted with diabetes “cannot be likewise be believed as the medical certificate attached to his motion did not specify that he is suffering from such.”
Valdez, who is in his 60s, turned himself in to the police on Feb. 25 after the court ordered his arrest. But he was immediately taken to the PNP hospital after his blood pressure went up.
The Office of the Ombudsman recommended his indictment for graft and plunder for allegedly pocketing P57.8 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, from 2004 to 2010.