Sandigan summons Gigi doctor, jailers

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH) doctor who allowed the transfer of lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes to the Philippine Heart Center over the weekend is expected to appear before the Sandiganbayan today to justify his actions.

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Third Division issued a subpoena to Anthony Lontoc yesterday directing him to explain why Reyes, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s former chief of staff, was moved to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City.

The Sandiganbayan also ordered the jail warden of the Taguig City female dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa to likewise attend the hearing for the same purpose.

Reyes, who is facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam, was moved from the TPDH to the PHC after she allegedly complained of chest pains.

The Sandiganbayan had earlier committed the accused to Camp Bagong Diwa jail despite her request for detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, also in Quezon City.

She was rushed to the TPDH shortly after arriving at Camp Bagong Diwa because of a severe panic attack supposedly triggered by, among others, the thought of spending time in jail with detained female New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

In a motion filed Saturday, Reyes’ lawyers led by Anacleto Diaz asked the Sandiganbayan to allow their client to stay at the PHC until her medical condition stabilizes and clearance from her doctors is given.

Her defense counsels are also asking for a reconsideration of the anti-graft court’s decision denying their motion that the accused be detained at the PNP Custodial Center.

Reyes underwent more tests yesterday at the PHC, three days after she was transferred from the TPDH.

Inspector Aris Villaester, spokesperson of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-National Capital Region (BJMP-NCR), said Reyes underwent nuclear examination to check her heart veins and muscles.

“Then another blood extraction would be done to check her thyroid function that Reyes has to eat less and have fasting,” said Villaester.

He said all tests are expected to be completed today and results published Wednesday or early Thursday.

On Saturday, Villaester said Reyes had wires and an intravenous drip attached to her and she underwent CT scan, 2D-Echo, MRI and EEG tests.

He said these equipment were not available at TPDH.

On Friday, her doctors at the TPDH recommended that she be brought to PHC after she complained of persistent chest pain accompanied with difficulty of breathing.

Based on the medical bulletin released 7 p.m. on Friday, “anti-angina medication was given (but) offered no relief.”

“An acute coronary event was considered and thus opted to transfer patient to (PHC) for further evaluation and management,” it added.

Villaester, who visited Reyes at her ordinary room at the intensive care unit of the PHC, said she appeared weak and was constantly sleeping. He said her mother and two siblings were with Reyes when he went to her room. Responding to allegations of special treatment, the BJMP official maintained that they are simply following orders of the doctors to ensure the safety of the detainee.

He said they would give the same treatment to all detainees, saying they also brought out a female pregnant detainee on Saturday after she suffered complications.

Villaester said a female detention officer was assigned to guard Reyes inside her hospital room, while other officers provide perimeter security.

Hospital protest

Earlier, demonstrators protesting the confinement of Reyes at the PHC showed the media a letter purportedly written by a detainee from Camp Bagong Diwa.

The letter purportedly handwritten by detained alleged communist leader Loida Magpatoc described Reyes as hysterical upon seeing the detention cells.

It said Reyes stiffened, and was immediately brought to the TPDH.

Members of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) slammed the supposed special treatment and called for the immediate return of Reyes to Camp Bagong Diwa.

Earlier reports said Reyes cited her fear of mingling with alleged members of the NPA in her appeal regarding her detention facility before the Sandiganbayan.

In a separate statement, National Union of People’s Lawyers secretary-general Edre Olalia said her panic attach is out of touch with reality and seems delusional.

“If she sees her own demons in the company of principled, rational and honorable women political prisoners she pejoratively labels as NPAs all, then she should really seek some professional help. They should not be the ones in jail in the first place,” said Olalia.  With Janvic Mateo, Edu Punay