Leviste remains in Makati hospital

Former Batangas Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste is still confined at the Makati Medical Center yesterday after jail guards at the Makati City Jail brought the detained murder suspect to the hospital last Friday after he suffered dizziness.

Leviste, who is facing charges for the murder of his long-time assistant Rafael de las Alas is still under observation at the hospital after the detainee complained of dizziness, poor eyesight and his blood pressure went down to 90 over 60.

Lawyer Henry Capela, Leviste’s counsel, said his client would have to remain in the hospital for a few more days to undergo a series of medical tests.

There are reports that Leviste was diagnosed to be suffering from gastroenteritis.

"The top concern here is his health condition. It is he (Leviste) who would determine if he is already okay. We would also have to wait for the results of the tests conducted on my client," Capela said.

Capela said he would file a motion in court to seek further treatment for Leviste who needs a longer confinement in the hospital to complete the medical examination.

Leviste was also hospitalized for allegedly suffering hypertension after he shot dead De las Alas at his office at at the 9th Floor of the LPL Tower building in Legaspi St., Legaspi Village in Makati City last Jan. 12.

Leviste was initially charged for homicide but the victim’s family moved for a reinvestigation of the case which eventually resulted to the filing of murder charges.

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco had criticized the police investigators for the sloppy probe and recommended that the homicide charges against Leviste be upgraded to murder based on the reinvestigation of the case.

Leviste claimed he acted only in self-defense when he shot De las Alas. The victim sustained four gunshot wounds in the head killing him instantly.

Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court granted last Feb. 13, the defense motion to defer arraignment of the murder charges against Leviste.

Witnesses told investigators that Leviste and De las Alas were arguing over a commission on a real property deal that the victim was trying to collect from the former governor.