Another restless night in jail seen for ailing Abalos

Benjamin Abalos INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former elections commission chief Benjamin Abalos may have to spend another restless night in a makeshift detention cell if the Pasay City Regional Trial Court decides to reject his motion for house arrest today, as the jail cell being readied for him at the Southern Police District (SPD) is nowhere near ready.

Abalos suffered a constriction in his chest and pain in his stomach shortly before dawn Thursday,  prompting his son, Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos, to rush to his side with the family physician, Dr. Zaldy Carpesa.

Carpesa emerged after spending an hour with the elder Abalos, saying he feared the former Comelec chairman’s gastric ulcer may be returning, a condition he has had since his teenage years, because of the highly stressful situation he is under.

Not adjusting well

The doctor said the 77-year-old Abalos might not be adjusting well to his windowless and cramped cell and recommended that he be allowed to go out to stretch his legs and catch some morning sun.

Abalos is being detained temporarily at the Southern Police District Anti-Criminality Special Operations Task Group  in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, after he was ordered arrested by Pasay Judge Jesus Mupas on the nonbailable charge of electoral sabotage.

Abalos’ health condition prompted SPD medical officer Dr. Jacqueline Honrado to recommend limiting visitors in his detention cell to immediate members of his family because he needed rest. Visiting hours were set at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“He seems okay. When I left him, he was sharing a meal with his wife (Cora) and he seems well,” the doctor said following her checkup of Abalos. Jeannette I. Andrade