Court lets Jinggoy see docs for his ‘frozen shoulder’

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—Citing humanitarian considerations, the Sandiganbayan granted detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s urgent motion for his own doctors to be allowed to examine his “frozen shoulder” in a private hospital in San Juan City.

Estrada on Wednesday underwent a three-hour medical examination at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital, which is only a few blocks from Camp Crame where he is being held in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

It was the second time the senator was allowed to undergo a medical procedure outside his detention cell since he was ordered arrested by the antigraft court’s Fifth Division in connection with the P184-million plunder case brought against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“After taking into account the arguments of both parties and for humanitarian considerations, the court resolves to grant [Estrada’s] prayer over the objection of the prosecution,” the Fifth Division said in its resolution.

The order was signed by Associate Justice Roland Jurado, the division chair, and Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Estoesta.

Last Monday, the court upheld its earlier resolution granting the prosecution’s motion for the issuance of a writ of attachment to prevent Estrada from accessing his properties while the cases against him are being heard.

In his motion filed on March 31, Estrada said the pain in his left shoulder was “increasing” and had become “unbearable.”

Estrada was allowed to undergo the medical test for three hours—from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

—subject to certain conditions.

Besides directing the Philippine National Police to coordinate with the Sandiganbayan Sheriff’s Office in providing security, the court reminded the PNP to make sure that Estrada “will not go to any other place other than” the hospital.

Estrada was also barred from giving interviews and was ordered to pay all the expenses for his medical examination.

No communication

The use of “any means of communications and electronics” by the senator and those who will accompany him should also be “under the control and supervision of the detailed PNP security,” the antigraft court said.

The senator should not be transported to the hospital “earlier than 3 p.m.” and should “not go beyond” 6 p.m., it said.

“In case the medical examination [is] completed in less than three hours, the PNP should not wait for 6 [p.m.] but immediately transport the accused to his detention cell,” the court said.

The court also instructed Estrada to submit a medical certificate five days after his checkup.