Court grants medical checkup for murder defendant Favila

The Regional Trial Court has allowed Michel Favila, Sr., one of those accused for the murder of lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana Yongco, to be taken to the hospital for checkup purportedly due to deteriorating health conditions.

RTC judge Bienvenido Saniel granted only Favila's motion for a medical checkup but not the other request for confinement at the hospital.

Judge Saniel also did not specify the time and date when Favila will be taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for the intended checkup.

The judge said he also ordered Efren Nemeño, warden of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, to provide maximum security on Favila when the time comes.

Favila, through his counsels Orlando Salatandre and Giovanie Mata, earlier told the court that his health was rapidly deteriorating due to the congestion at BBRC, so he should be allowed to go to the hospital for checkup and, possibly, confinement.

Favila claimed he has tuberculosis and he needed hospital confinement because he already began spewing blood. The court however denied this but agreed instead that he would undergo a checkup.

Favila, the main accused in the killing of Yongco two years ago, has been facing trial along with two others, Nestor Carol and army sergeant Heracleo Rallestan.

The three are members of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.

Yongco, while still alive, was the private prosecutor in the parricide case against PBMA supreme leader Ruben Ecleo Jr, for the killing of his wife, Alona. - Fred P. Languido/RAE