Sandigan allows Jinggoy two-day hospital stay

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. AP FILE PHOTO

Detained senator Jinggoy Estrada is allowed by the Sandiganbayan to stay in the hospital for two days for a complete medical check-up even as he is detained for plunder over the pork barrel scam.

In a resolution, the antigraft court Fifth Division said Estrada is allowed to stay at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital at Greenhills, San Juan for a medical check-up from Aug 4, Tuesday, to Aug 6, Thursday.

The court allowed Estrada to leave his detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at 10 p.m. on Tuesday and ordered him to go back to his detention at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

The court said the Philippine National Police General Hospital has informed the court it does not have the equipment for other medical tests, such as stress echo, pulmonary function test, and endoscopy examination.

“For humanitarian considerations, the motion is granted over the objection of the prosecution,” the resolution said.

In his motion, Estrada had asked the court for a three-day medical check-up.

The court imposed the usual conditions of security escorts to limit Estrada’s movement. The court said communication devices would be under the control of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Media interviews would also not be allowed.

Estrada should also shoulder expenses of the trip, the court added.

The court had earlier granted Estrada furlough to attend the graduation of his son Julian Emilio.

Estrada faces plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the scheme of pilfering lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to ghost projects for kickbacks. He is detained with Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. for the same charges. Meanwhile, co-accused Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is under hospital detention.