Sandiganbayan allows Jinggoy to undergo shoulder check-up

The Sandiganbayan has allowed former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to undergo a medical checkup for his aching right shoulder.

In the minutes of the proceedings held on Tuesday, the anti-graft court's Fifth Division granted Estrada's motion to be brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City for a hospital examination.

The court said Estrada may undergo MRI and X-ray only at the said hospital on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. or until the procedures are done.

In his four-page motion, Estrada explained that in the late afternoon of May 11, he experienced extreme pain on his right shoulder.

He said he had been suffering from right shoulder pain since April 2016. His left shoulder pain was also diagnosed in November 2014 as calcific tendonitis - adhesive capsulitis or "frozen shoulder," for which the court allowed him to undergo therapy sessions at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The court, however, set several terms and conditions in granting Estrada's motion.

One is that he may only be transported to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center and no other place not earlier than one hour before the appointment time and leave for this detention cell as soon as the examinations are done.

The court also directed the Philippine National Police to provide escorts and security measures for Estrada and control his use of communication and electronic gadgets.

Estrada, through his lawyers, was also ordered to provide the court with a copy of the results of the medical examinations.

Estrada is facing plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P183.793-million worth of kickbacks by allocating his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel to fake non-government organizations allegedly owned by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

He is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. —KBK, GMA News