The prosecution panel handling the case of former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez on Wednesday blocked his request to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center, saying they weren’t convinced he needed to be close to a hospital.<br /><br />Valdez, in his request to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center, cited his diabetes and a bullet lodged in his spine as reasons. The facility is near the PNP General Hospital.<br /><br />But government lawyers said Valdez has yet to prove his diabetes, and his spinal injury was diagnosed two years ago, and is not apparent anymore.<br /><br />“There is no showing that said illness still persists in the present. The supporting document is not notarized, raising doubts as to the authenticity and genuineness, not only as to its existence but as to the contents thereof,” the prosecution pointed out in its comment.<br /><br />“There is a question if he is indeed suffering from diabetes considering no document was submitted by accused Valez to substantiate his claim,” it added.<br /><br />Valdez was among the second batch of lawmakers charged earlier this month by the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.<br /><br />Three senators also charged in connection with the same scam are currently detained in Camp Crame — Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. at the PNP Custodial Center, and Juan Ponce Enrile, who is 91 years old, at the PNP General Hospital.<br /><br />In his Urgent Ex-Parte motion, Valdez, who surrendered to the sheriff of the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, said he needs easy access to a hospital for regular monitoring of his health.<br /><br />But government lawyers insist he needs to be detained in a regular jail, as prescribed by law.<br /><br />“Prevailing law dictates that accused Valdez should be confined not at the PNP custodial center but in a facility under the supervision and control of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,” the prosecution said<br /><br />The prosecution added that while the PNP Custodial Center can detain individuals facing litigation, it is not technically a jail, and therefore Valdez cannot be detained there.<br /><br />“The Custodial Center is in Camp Crame, thus falling under the supervision and control of the PNP. The legal mandate of the PNP does not include the power to supervise detention facilities of persons awaiting trial. While it may be true that the PNP is vested by law to detain an arrested person, it should be noted that the detention or safekeeping of the latter should not go beyond the period prescribed by law,” the prosecution said. <strong>—KBK, GMA News</strong>
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