Sandiganbayan grants Estrada 2-day furlough

Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada steps out of the police van that brought him to the Sandiganbayan in this file photo taken on Monday, July 17, 2017, the first day of the trial for his plunder case. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB / INQUIRER.net

The Sandiganbayan has allowed the request of former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for a two-day medical pass to undergo videocolonoscopy even as he is detained for plunder over the pork barrel scam.

In a resolution dated July 25, the anti-graft court Fifth Division granted Estrada’s request for furlough from July 27 starting 8 a.m., until July 29 at 8 a.m. for a videocolonoscopy at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

READ: Jinggoy seeks medical furlough for colonoscopy

“Accused Estrada is permitted to undergo videocolonoscopy at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center only and not in any other hospital,” the court said.

The court ordered Estrada to be transported by the police escorts to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center not earlier than an hour before the appointment time, and until such time the procedure is finished.

The court said the communication equipment and electric gadgets of Estrada and his companions should be surrendered to the Philippine National Police, and that Estrada should shoulder the expenses to be incurred by the police.

The court also prohibited media interviews and required Estrada to furnish a copy of the results of the examination.

In an earlier interview with reporters after his plunder trial last week, Estrada said his doctors have advised him to undergo videocolonoscopy, a procedure where a camera will be inserted into his anus to check on the condition of his colon, rectum, and small intestine.

“The doctor advised me to undergo colonoscopy, up and down, gastroscopy tsaka (and also) colonoscopy… Mayroon lang mga elevated blood test na nakita, abnormalities din,” Estrada said.

In a four-page motion filed before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Estrada said he needed to undergo the medical procedure following the results of his blood test, which showed “elevated levels” of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).

Estrada has been detained at the custodial center in Camp Crame since 2014, after being charged before the Sandiganbayan for plunder and graft for allegedly receiving P183.8 million in kickbacks from endorsing bogus foundations to implement ghost projects through his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). JPV