Pork scam suspect Valdez rushed to PNP General Hospital due to high blood pressure

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday allowed former Apec partylist representative Edgar Valdez who is facing a plunder case over the pork barrel scam to be rushed to the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital due to high blood pressure.

Earlier in the day when Valdez surrendered to the antigraft court, he complained of experiencing high blood pressure and high sugar level.

The court has yet to issue the commitment order for Valdez’s detention as the Justices of the Fifth Division hearing his case went on an out of town work.

Atty. Dennis Pulma, Clerk of Court of the Third Division, was tasked to coordinate with the Fifth Division on the arrangements for Valdez’s temporary detention.

The court allowed Valdez to be rushed to the PNP General Hospital due to “humanitarian reasons” and upon the recommendation of the Sandiganbayan doctor.

“As per Order Ad Cautelam dated February 25, 2015, considering the recommendation of Doctor Warlin S. Basuel, of the Sandiganbayan Medical Section and for humanitarian reasons, with prior consultation with the Members of the Fifth Division who are on out-of-town hearing in Cagayan De Oro City, accused Edgar Valdez is Allowed to be brought to the PNP General Hospital, Camp Crame for emergency medical attention,” according to the court’s order, an excerpt of which was texted by Atty. Pulma.

Valdez had asked the court for him to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center allowing him access to the PNP General Hospital in case of emergency situations.

He said he has diabetes and a bullet lodged in his spine.

Valdez is accused of pocketing at least P57.787 million in kickbacks from alleged ghost projects funded through the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) covering the years 2004 to 2010.

Principal whistleblower Benhur Luy said payoffs for Valdez, whose codename is “kuryente,” were made in the office of Napoles in Ortigas. Valdez used to represent electric cooperatives as Apec (Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives) representative.

In its indictment, the Ombudsman said Valdez endorsed his PDAF funds to Napoles-controlled foundations, which were supposed to implement projects like livelihood programs, and the distribution of farm inputs and farm implements.

The Ombudsman said the funding and projects never went to the intended beneficiaries.

“(The) PDAF of Valdez was never used for the intended projects as these were considered ‘ghost’ projects, with fabricated documents submitted for its liquidation,” the Ombudsman said.

It added, “The mayors and municipal agriculturists reported that they never received anything from the office of Valdez, or from any of the project partners.”

“In fact, many of the names appearing on the lists as farmer-recipients were neither residents nor registered voters of the municipalities,” the Ombudsman noted.