Napoles suffers 'vaginal bleeding'; transfer to detention deferred

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Friday deferred the transfer of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles from the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The decision was based on the testimony of one of Napoles' doctors that she had suffered from "significant" vaginal bleeding. Napoles was supposed to be returned to the police camp for detention by midnight.

Napoles' gynecologist Efren Domingo took the witness stand and testified that Napoles started bleeding last May 17 and was referred to him by the Osmak on May 19.

"The vaginal bleeding is significant in amount. It began last May 17 and was referred to me on May 19. It was a direct referral," Domingo told the court.

"Mrs. Napoles soaked her underpants through her jogging pants at her thighs," added Domingo.

Domingo told the court that he immediately ordered a complete bed rest for Napoles and the administration of anti-bleeding drugs. Domingo told the court that he later ordered the withdrawal of his earlier order to have Napoles discharged from the Osmak.

Domingo said Napoles was able to soak up three sanitary napkins when she was examined by Dr. Elsie Badillo Pascua - her other gynecologist - during a digital pelvic examination done on her from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. last May 20 at the Osmak.

Domingo told the court that stress could have triggered the bleeding.

"My order for her to have complete bed rest was not followed. She was mobile," he said.

"It is because of her stress and her diabetes. She also confided that she has not slept," Domingo added.

When asked by Special Prosecutor Christopher Garvida on the other factors which could also trigger the vaginal bleeding, Domingo said it could also be triggered by "private intimate contact" which is not necessarily sexual contact.

"She is human and she has her urges," said Domingo.

Domingo, however, told the court that she did not ask if Napoles had sexual contact while at the hospital.

Domingo told the court that Napoles had stopped bleeding last May 21. He said he is willing to have Napoles discharged from the Osmak after a "bleeding-fe" period of seven to 10 days.

"I could order her discharge on May 28," he said.

Meanwhile, Judge Elmo Alameda ordered that Osmak medical director Perry Peralta and Osmak gynecologist Florentina Villanueva be made to appear in court on Monday for the continuation of the hearing of Napoles' motion for an extended stay at the Osmak.

Peralta and Villanueva were summoned by the court after the prosecution panel manifested that they be consulted on Napoles' condition.

Napoles lawyers last May 21 filed an urgent motion with the court asking that she be allowed to stay longer at the Osmak following her vaginal bleeding episode. Her lawyers also asked that all her post-surgery check-ups be done at the Osmak.

In her seven-page motion, lawyer Fay Isaguirre Singson informed the court that on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Napoles was checked by her gynecologists Pascua and Domingo, both from St. Luke's Medical Center.

Singson said that after the check-up, Napoles' doctors recommended the continuation of her hospital stay due to vaginal bleeding.

According to the progress report prepared by Pascua and Domingo, Napoles started complaining of vaginal spotting on May 17 and she was referred to them on May 19 for vaginal bleeding.

Singson said that because of Napoles' new condition, the doctors ordered her complete bed rest and that she avoid straining, lifting objects and stress.

"Due to this supervening event of the patient experiencing vaginal bleeding, the attending physicians were alerted and hence recommended that the patient should continue her confinement at the hospital due to the said bleeding and for her regular pelvic examination," the motion reads.

Singson asked the court to reconsider its earlier decision ordering the return of Napoles to Fort Sto. Domingo not later than May 23.

"She be allowed further confinement until such time that the series of her regular and routinary medical check-ups are completed to detect and avoid early and late complications," Singson said in her motion.

Judge Alameda initially denied the very urgent motion of Napoles asking for an extension of her stay at the Osmak and ordered the police to transfer her back to Fort Sto. Domingo.