Napoles brought to OsMak for confinement, surgery

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles arrived at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) under tight police escort on Monday night to undergo surgery for her uterine myoma and hospital confinement. Napoles, wearing a white blouse with blue stripes, alighted from a police pick-up and was whisked into the out-patient department of the hospital at about 10:19 p.m. Napoles was not handcuffed and she was not wearing a bullet-proof vest. Makati Police chief, Sr. Supt. Manuel Lukban, said Napoles will have to undergo several tests within three days before her surgery. Lukban said tje Makati Police will serve as perimeter security around the hospital with elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion of the PNP Region 4-A as her close in security. Earlier, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 granted her request for surgery to remove her uterine myoma and hospital confinement but only at the Ospital ng Makati. “Ospital ng Makati, a government hospital is reasonable and logical place where the accused could undergo surgical operation and temporary confinement. Ospital ng Makati is also a workable solution to the contrasting views proffered by accused-movant and the prosecution,” said Alameda in his order. Alameda added that Napoles’ confinement at the Osmak would afford more protection to the state than her confinement in a private hospital of her choice. Napoles is being detained at Fort Sto. Domingo, a police Special Action Force camp, in connection with the complaint of serious illegal detention filed against her by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. Serious illegal detention is a non-bailable offense. “For one, accused Janet Lim Napoles was charged with a non-bailable offense and the evidence against her was found to be strong for which reason, her petition for bail was denied. The provisional liberty of the accused having been curtailed by the denial of her petition for bail, it now behooves this court to perform its duty by protecting the interest of the people over the provisional liberty and convenience of the accused,” the judge said. Alameda said the court found sufficient basis to grant Napoles’ motion after hearing the testimonies given in court by Chief Inspector Michelle Daguno, a doctor assigned to the Philippine National Police Health Service and Dr. Santiago del Rosario, head of the Makati Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Although surgery is not urgent at this time as testified by Dr. Daguno, advancing the schedule of her surgical operation as pleaded by the accused herself would be beneficial to her health since the cysts in her uterus which she claims to be the source of her excruciating pain would be removed,” said Alameda in his order. Alameda, in his order, also said Napoles should shoulder all her medical bills and other expenses in connection with her confinement and surgical operation at the Osmak. According to Diosfa Villanueva, Branch 1560 clerk of court, it would be up to the camp of Napoles to inform the court when the surgery on Napoles would be scheduled. Last March 21, Napoles pleaded before Alameda to permit her surgery and confinement at the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City. Napoles made the surprise appearance at the continuation of the hearing of her earlier filed petition for surgery and confinement at the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global. "Hirap na hirap na ako. Hindi na ako tinatablan ng gamot. Kung wala lang akong sakit, hindi ako magmamakaawa ng ganito," a teary-eyed Napoles told Judge Alameda. Alameda, meanwhile, reminded Napoles' lawyer, Fay Isaguirre Singson that her client simply cannot insist on her wish of being treated at the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global as both her civil and political rights are restricted being an accused in a criminal case "Your client does not enjoy her full political and civil rights. The court is trying to balance everything," Judge Alameda said. Napoles told the court that she wants to be treated at the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City as all her medical records and her trusted doctors are there. Napoles told the court that she fears being treated by doctors she does not trust as her mother died as a consequence of malpractice. She added that St. Luke's Medical Center-Global City has both the equipment and doctors to treat her condition. "May facilities yun at andun ang mga doctors namin," she said. Again, Alameda reminded Napoles that being an accused, her political and civil rights are restrained. Alameda said the court is concerned about where Napoles will be confined after the surgery and how long will she be staying there. He cited the case of an accused who has been confined at the Philippine Heart Center for the past four years now. "The moment we grant her (Napoles) request to undergo it (surgery), it would now be at the hands of the attending doctor at what time she would be discharged from the hospital," he said. During the hearing, Judge Alameda pushed for other hospitals aside from the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global where Napoles could be treated for her uterine myoma. Alameda suggested that Napoles could instead be taken to the Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, which is about 10 minutes by car from her detention facility at Fort Sto. Domingo also in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Other hospitals being considered by the court are the Ospital ng Makati, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the Philippine General Hospital. Valencia earlier said the court is initially considering Osmak as the surgery's venue. "Submitted na siya for resolution. Initially ang considered ay Ospital ng Makati. Pero wala pang order ang court. Ruled out na ang private hospital at di na rin nag-oppose yung prosecution doon kung sa Ospital ng Makati ang surgery. Even the patient considered it," she said. Valencia added an internal arrangement could be made with the administration of Osmak to allow Napoles' personal doctors to perform the surgery on her. "Possible na dalhin na lang ang personal doctors niya. It would be an internal arrangement with the director of the Ospital ng Makati if allowed. St. Luke"s was not granted because it is a private hospital. Ospital ng Makati was initially considered but wala pang formal order ang court. Marami kasing na consider na hospital. Bago naman ang Osmak. Payag naman ang prosecution and even the patient kasi malapit sa mga attending physicians niya," she said. Last March 4, Napoles, through her lawyers asked the court to be allowed to have surgery and confinement at the St. Luke's Medical Center at the Bonifacio Global City. In an 11-page "Motion to Undergo Medical Surgery and Hospital Confinement" filed through her lawyers, Singson and Evita Magnolia Ansaldo, Napoles asked that she be allowed to undergo surgery at the St. Luke's Medical Center-Global to have her uterine myoma removed and then be hospitalized for post-operative care.