Jinggoy wants to undergo therapy for shoulder pain

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is facing trial for plunder for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, yesterday asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to have therapy sessions for his shoulder pain.

Estrada’s request came after his co-accused, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., also asked the anti-graft court to allow him to undergo medical checkup for his persistent migraine attacks.

Estrada’s lawyers told the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division yesterday of the lawmaker’s request and were told to put the same in a formal written motion.

Estrada underwent a medical checkup last month at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center and has been diagnosed with mild cervical spondylosis.

The ailment, more commonly referred to as arthritis of the neck, was discovered after the accused complained of shoulder pain and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Estrada, who is detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center at Camp Crame, submitted his medical test results to the Sandiganbayan, including a blood examination and an ultrasound of the abdomen.

No testimonies yet

Meanwhile, two witnesses against Estrada failed to proceed with their testimonies during bail hearings yesterday because of various issues and opposition raised by both the prosecution and the defense.

The testimony of Mary Arlene Balthazar, a former bookkeeper of alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles, had to be halted after ombudsman lawyers questioned the manner by which defense counsels were asking her about the benefits she was receiving from the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Whistle-blower Benhur Luy’s testimony also had to be stopped after defense lawyers questioned why the prosecution was utilizing printed documents used in the separate plunder case against Revilla at the Sandiganbayan First Division.

Ombudsman prosecutors have also filed a pleading opposing Estrada’s bid to have the immunity granted to the whistle-blower nullified because of his deep involvement in the alleged crime.

“The exercise of the ombudsman’s discretion in granting immunity to Mr. Luy has a firm factual basis, with an eye on the needs of the prosecution and the interest of the people,” government lawyers said.

“The determination that Mr. Luy is not the ‘most guilty’ is one that the ombudsman – more than the defense – can accurately make,” they added.

SC ruling sought

In a related development, the Supreme Court (SC) was asked yesterday to rule on a petition seeking the return to government coffers of P6.156 billion in Priority Development Assistance Fund released to lawmakers from 2007 to 2009.

Petitioners belonging to an anti-pork barrel group led by former Manila councilor Greco Belgica asked the high court to decide on their mandamus petition filed last June seeking to compel the Commission on Audit (COA) to issue the notices of disallowance on 772 PDAF-funded and questionable projects implemented by 82 non-government organizations.

Citing section 8, rule 65 of the Rules of Court, the group said the high tribunal could rule on their petition based on evidence they have presented even without the comments of the respondents. – With Edu Punay