Gringo’s condition stable, but needs 3 mos to recover

Former senator Gregorio Honasan is now in stable condition in a hospital in Muntinlupa, but he needs three months to fully recover from injuries he sustained while trying to elude government agents who had come to arrest him on Wednesday, a police surgeon said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Senior Superintendent Francisco Altajeros, an orthopedic surgeon at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, said it is not true that one of Honasan’s feet would be amputated.

"Theoretically speaking, it will take three months for Honasan to fully recover," he said.

Altajeros and other doctors recommended a strong antibiotic to Honasan and monitored his condition due to hypertension he experienced on Wednesday after the operation on his left foot, which has two to three stitches.

"CT scan revealed he has fracture at the left calcaneous with displacement," he said. "The left foot is severely swollen and needs immobilization. The right foot sustained a deep lacerated wound which I operated on Wednesday morning."

Altajeros said shortly after arriving at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Honasan underwent a 3D scan on his left foot and X-rays on both his feet.

"It will take seven to 10 days to observe the right foot and seven days to observe the left foot to determine whether we should operate on his injured foot," he said.

"Kapag na-control na ang infection at okay na ang right foot, pwede na siyang i-discharge from the hospital. And the necessary move will depend on the court’s decision."

Honasan’s wound must be cleansed everyday to prevent infection, Altajeros said.

Honasan’s lawyer, Danilo Gutierrez told reporters yesterday his client would have to remain at the Asian Hospital for further medical tests until the weekend, although everything still depends on the results of the procedures being conducted on him.

"Doctors said he has a very good heart, although his cholesterol and sugar levels went up, but this was attributed to the injuries he suffered," he said.

"His feet are both swollen and other tests can only be made once the swelling subsides. It is possible that he might undergo operation that is why attending doctors are carefully examining his condition, to avoid an operation."

Gutierrez said Honasan is thankful to the PNP officials for their "very professional attitude" since the time he was arrested, until he was taken to the CIDG headquarters, then to the PNP General Hospital, and later to the Asian Hospital.

"Most of all, he (Honasan) is thankful to his family for their support and sacrifice during this difficult time," he said.

Gutierrez said Honasan assured his supporters and the Filipino people that wherever he is, he will continue to advocate for reforms in the country.

"I will be attending a hearing (today) of the motion filed by the CIDG that the senator be detained at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna," he said. "We will however, oppose this."

The PNP asked yesterday the Makati court hearing Honasan’s rebellion case to order his detention at the Special Action Force training camp in Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

In a two-page motion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Jesus Verzosa asked Judge Oscar Pimentel to allow the PNP to take custody of Honasan, who faces charges of coup d’etat and rebellion.

"The custody of the accused is more secure if he is placed at Camp Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna under the custody of the PNP Camp Sto. Domingo (which) has adequate detention facilities... guarded by members of the PNP," read the PNP’s ex-parte motion.

Verzosa said the CIDG considered the status of Honasan and his "record of escapes" when he was a fugitive after leading the failed but bloody coup against President Corazon Aquino in 1989.

"Wherefore premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed that this motion for the PNP to take custody of the accused Honasan at Camp Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna be granted for security reasons," read the motion.

Verzosa said the presence of Honasan in Camp Crame would "surely affect" the situation inside the PNP’s national headquarters in Quezon City.

"We do not want to disrupt normal processes in Camp Crame," he said.

‘Honasan can run for senator’

Despite his capture, Honasan may still run in next year’s senatorial elections, an election lawyer said yesterday.

Speaking at the "Newsmakers" breakfast forum at the Manila Pavilion Waterfront Hotel, lawyer Romulo Macalintal said he expects the cashiered Army colonel to run in the May 2007 elections.

"There were reports that Honasan is running again for senator and he can run," he said.

Macalintal said although Honasan is charged with rebellion and now under detention, he can still run for any public post in the coming elections.

"Under our existing laws, Honasan can still file his certificate of candidacy, run for elections and even serve as senator as long as he is not yet convicted with finality of any crime," he said.

Honasan is also allowed to submit his certificate of candidacy by designating a person to file it before the Commission on Elections, he added.

However, Macalintal said the possibility of Honasan voting in the coming elections is a different issue that the Comelec needs to settle.

Meanwhile, Honasan can no longer "indoctrinate" his guards into allowing him to escape from jail as what he had done when he was detained in a Navy ship on Manila Bay after leading a failed coup against the government in 1989, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said yesterday.

Puno said members of the police and the military have proven their loyalty to the administration that Honasan would no longer be able to sway them into going his way. — Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rhodina Villanueva, Mayen Jaymalin, Aurea Calica, Myleth Katleen Dalisay