Court orders Napoles' return to Fort Sto. Domingo

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 denied for lack of merit the motion filed by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles asking for an extended stay at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak).

In his two-page order, Judge Elmo Alameda also ordered the director of the Police Regional Office 4A to provide the needed security personnel and escort Napoles from the Osmak to her place of detention at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna not later than Friday.

Napoles has been confined at the Osmak since March 31. She was operated on April 23 and had a uterine cyst removed along with her uterus and two ovaries.

"By this time, her attending physicians may have already completed the once-a-week post operative check-up for the first month including psychological examination " said Judge Alameda in his order.

Alameda also took into consideration Tuesday's court testimony of Chief inspector Magnolia Ruth Priscilla Bermudez, police medical officer assigned at Fort Sto. Domingo that Napoles' succeding check-ups could be done at the said police camp.

"As a preventive measure, the court directed Dr. Bermudez to take all precautionary measures to prevent the patient from contracting infection by seeing to it that she will not be exposed to elements like dirty environment and to make her as comfortable as possibe," the order added.

The court subpoenaed Bermudez after Napoles’ earlier doctors told the court that Napoles should not be exposed to a “warm and dirty environment” 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 a previous hearing, Napoles’ doctors told the court that Napoles has 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 Domiongo.

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 Tuesday 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 on May 6 advising that Napoles is now given clearance to be 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.

Napoles’ doctors  earlier 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.