State prosecutor accuses hospital of coddling Leviste

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco accused the management of the Makati Medical Center yesterday of allegedly coddling former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste.

Velasco plans to file today charges of indirect contempt and obstruction of justice against the hospital for allowing Leviste to extend his stay there despite an order last March 6 from Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda directing that Leviste be returned to detention at the Makati City Jail.

Velasco vowed to pursue the indirect contempt charges against Leviste and his two doctors, Reynato Kasilag and Ramon Luis Liboro, for defying the court order.

Alameda is set to hear the indirect contempt filed by Velasco against Leviste and the latter’s motion to allow him to post bail at 8:30 a.m.

Velasco noted that despite Alameda’s March 6 order, Leviste was only discharged from Makati Medical and returned to his detention cell at the city jail four days later.

"That’s really my point. The return did not cure the contemptuous acts done. He should have been discharged as early as Monday and the latest was on Wednesday of last week. But they dilly-dallied. Hence, we will pursue the contempt charges and I will include the Makati Medical Center for coddling an accused in a murder case," Velasco said.

In a three-page urgent motion filed last March 9, Velasco accused Leviste of conspiring with Kasilag and Liboro to extend his stay at Makati Medical and belittle the court.

Velasco charged that Leviste wanted to be accorded "VIP treatment."

Leviste admitted killing his long-time aide, Rafael de las Alas, last Jan. 12 but claimed it was self-defense.

Velasco accuses Leviste of faking an illness to avoid detention in jail.