Judge checks on Legacy owner's condition

MANILA, Philippines - Judge Flor Abu of the Regional Trial Court in Cagayan de Oro City checked yesterday on the condition of Celso de los Angeles, who has been tagged as the “brains” behind the multi-billion-peso Legacy scam.

The judge, who has ordered the arrest of De los Angeles, paid him a visit at a building near the St. Luke’s Hospital where his lawyers said their client is on “hospital arrest.”

Several Legacy scam victims, who have filed multiple charges against the owner of the failed Legacy group of rural banks and pre-need companies, accompanied Abu.

Abu told radio station dzBB that he wanted to see for himself whether De los Angeles could be transferred to a jail in Cagayan de Oro City.

However, after his visit, the judge did not say whether he would order the transfer of the accused.

The upper floors of the multi-story building where De los Angeles has been transferred from his hospital bed at St. Luke’s house doctors’ clinics, one of which the Legacy group’s owner is reportedly renting.

His doctors told Abu that their patient, who is suffering from throat cancer, has developed “immuno compromised state, which means he could get easily infected by other sick people.” That’s why they recommended that he be isolated, they said.

They said De los Angeles could not talk and could communicate only by writing.

Two weeks ago, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Legacy scam “brains” has been allowed to move to a condominium unit and was enjoying special treatment.

“If Celso de los Angeles is fit to be discharged from his hospital confinement, then he must be incarcerated pending trial for non-bailable crimes. From his hospital bed, he must be taken straight to a prison cell,” he said.

“Did the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors oppose the transfer? What is the DOJ doing now to rectify this injudicious special treatment, if not apparent anomaly?” he asked.