Court defers order on Napoles plea for extended stay at Osmak

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Thursday deferred its order on the request of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles for an extended stay at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) as it scheduled another hearing on Tuesday morning and summoned the doctor assigned at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Judge Elmo Alameda ordered Chief Inspector Magnolia Ruth Bermudez to appear in court at 10 a.m. to answer questions on the conditions at the police camp where Napoles will be returned for detention following her surgery at Osmak.

The court subpoenaed Bermudez after Napoles’ doctors told the court that Napoles should not be exposed to “warm and dirty environments” during her recovery period and after discharge from the Osmak. Exposure to such a condition, according to Napoles’ doctor, Efren Domingo, could leave Napoles vulnerable to infection.

In Thursday’s hearing, Napoles’ doctors told the court that Napoles has already been “medically discharged” from the Osmak following her surgery to remove a cyst from her uterus last April 23.

“We have issued her discharge. Meaning, she does not need hospitalization,” said Domingo.

Domingo added that he is in favor of allowing Napoles to stay for at least three more months at the Osmak or any other tertiary hospital for her series of post-operative check-ups.

Domingo added that it is ideal that the check-ups on Napoles be done at the hospital or at their clinics in St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global. However, he also said that he could visit Napoles at her detention place in Fort Sto. Domingo, provided that his security will be assured.

“We don’t know the conditions at Fort Sto. Domingo. We are afraid for our security as Mrs. Napoles is a detainee,” he said.

“We recommend that she sees us at our clinics or we see her at a hospital. We are willing to go to Fort Sto. Domingo provided we are assured of our safety,” he added.

Osmak medical director Perry Peralta meanwhile told the court that Napoles could be discharged even without paying her hospital bills which had ballooned to P105,000 as of yesterday as she could present a promissory note.

“There are no medical and administrative hindrances for her discharge,” said Peralta.

Last May 7, Napoles’ lawyers filed a seven-page “Very Urgent Ex Parte Motion To Observe The Status Quo Ante With Motion For Further Hospital Confinement Due To Medical Reasons” with the court.

According to the motion, although Napoles’ doctors have issued a medical bulletin last May 6 advising that Napoles is now given clearance to be clinically discharged from the Osmak, she still needs to undergo checkups once-a-week for one month, once every two weeks for the succeeding month and a check-up a month thereafter.

The lawyers also asked that Napoles be made to undergo complete bed rest at a place which is more “sanitized, hygienic and sterile.”         

Napoles, through her lawyers, is asking the court to allow her to be confined for an additional period of time at the Osmak to enable her to have a complete bed rest for speedy and full recovery, for easier mobility, practicality and convenience, not only for her, but also for her doctors and the security personnel who will be burdened to transfer her to the hospital and back for her check-ups.

Earlier, Napoles’ doctors said she is fully recovered and could now be released. Doctors removed Napoles’ uterus and two ovaries after a cyst was found in her uterus.