Perez checks out of hospital but…

First bleeding ulcers, now gallstones.

Justice Secretary on-leave Hernando Perez checked out of the hospital yesterday, but may go back early next year to have a gallbladder stone removed.

Perez entered the hospital earlier this week to get "much-needed rest and a medical check-up" after he was diagnosed with bleeding ulcers, Perez’s lawyer Agnes Devanadera said yesterday.

The diagnosis of the ulcers compelled Perez to go on a 30-day leave.

During the medical check-up, doctors discovered the stone in Perez’s gallbladder and stomach swelling caused by gastritis. "Doctors have already taken some tissue samples from (Perez) for further diagnosis," Devanadera said.

Although Perez’s doctor declared him "generally in good health," Perez checked into a hospital "to give the much-delayed attention to my ulcer condition, which has already forced me to go on a 30-day leave last month."

The justice secretary went on leave in November to seek treatment for bleeding stomach ulcers. Although Perez’s doctor said he is generally healthy, Devanadera said, "(Perez) was advised to rest for a few more days before returning to his normal duties."

Perez said his stay in hospital "reinvigorated" him and he is now "anxious to get back to work."

Before entering the hospital, Perez said he will no longer focus on the allegations made by Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez and Bulacan Rep. Willie Villarama that he had demanded and received a $2 million bribe deposited in a Coutts Bank account in Hong Kong by electronic transfer.

Perez said he will "leave the cases filed against (Jimenez) and (Villarama) to run their natural course," since he has already filed the appropriate charges against them.

"We worked so hard to restore democracy and the rule of law in our country. No amount of persecution, mud-slinging and vilification can intimidate me or force me to capitulate to my enemies," Perez said.

The $2 million, it was reported, was supposedly part of $14 million in grease money to push the deal between the government and Argentine power producer Industria Metalurgica Pescarmona SA (Impsa).

According to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the $2 million was payment for a favorable legal opinion from the DOJ issued by Perez during the justice secretary’s first days in office.

Jimenez, on the other hand, claimed he had wired the money to the bank account of Perez’s brother-in-law, Ramon Arceo Jr., upon the instructions of businessman and private banker Ernest Escaler while under duress. Jimenez also said Perez had threatened him and his family, a matter which prompted him to pay out the money to Perez.

Perez, Arceo and Escaler have all denied Jimenez’s claims, though Jimenez’s statements were supported by Villarama.