Sandigan allows Jinggoy extended hospital stay

(Update)

The Sandiganbayan has allowed detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada to extend his hospital stay.

In an order, the antigraft court Fifth Division allowed Estrada to stay at Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in Greenhills, San  Juan until Aug. 7, 2 p.m. for his comprehensive medical check-up.

The court said it was told Estrada’s coronary angiogram was scheduled 2 p.m. on Thursday even when the court had only allowed Estrada until 6 p.m. before returning to his detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.

The court only allowed him a one-day extension even as Estrada had asked the court to allow him two more days from Thursday to stay at the hospital to complete his medical check-ups.
The court had initially allowed Estrada to stay in the hospital from Aug. 4 to 6.

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.

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 a 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.

(We are reposting this story to correct the date of Senator Estrada’s hospital stay. )