Court allows Napoles to undergo medical checkup

(Updated 7:50 p.m.) Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, will undergo transvaginal ultrasound and other medical tests on Wednesday, February 26, a Makati court said Monday. Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court branch 150 allowed Napoles' request for a comprehensive medical examination to check a cyst on her ovary. "The motion of accused Janet Lim-Napoles to undergo medical examination is granted," the judge said in a two-page order. Alameda ordered the Philippine National Police Regional Office 4-A, which has custody over Napoles, to transfer her from her detention cell in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna to Camp Crame General Hospital in Quezon City. He requested the police "to provide adequate number of security personnel to escort the accused... on February 26, 2014 and bring her back to her detention cell... immediately upon her discharge from Camp Crame hospital." In the order, Alameda said he was persuaded by the conclusions and recommendations of the doctors who testified that Napoles needs to undergo the requested medical tests. Among those who testified were Dr. Angelo Michael Luna of PNP Special Action Force; Dr. Ramon Elazigue, head of radiology department of Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center; Dr. Elsie Badillo-Pascua, obstetrician-gynecologist of St. Luke's; and Dr. Michael Lim Villa, endocrinologist, also of St. Lukes. Napoles had earlier requested the court that she undergo a comprehensive gynecological test, a transvaginal ultrasound examination, a comprehensive medical checkup, as well as to be admitted to a reputable hospital. She initially wanted to have the checkup at St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City, but her lawyer and the government prosecutors agreed during the hearing on Monday to have it at Camp Crame hospital. Alameda said upon being informed that Camp Crame has a facility for the medical tests, "the court deems it proper that the examinations be done at the said hospital and not at St. Luke's Medical Center, the hospital of choice of the accused." He further said that the personal doctors of Napoles, if allowed by the rules of Camp Crame Hospital, may be present and observe the actual examinations to be conducted. Three doctors Meanwhile, a police official said at least three doctors will be attentding to Napoles.  She is also facing plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the scam and the alleged misuse of Malampaya funds. In their motion filed last week, Napoles' counsel Fay Isaguirre Singson said her client has ovarian tumor. She said Napoles has been experiencing profuse bleeding since October, hypoglycemia, weight loss, chest pain and abdominal pain. "Accused humbly begs the kindness and human compassion of the honorable court to allow the examination to be done by a certified medical physician preferably her current doctor and in a reputable hospital such as St. Luke's Hospital to ensure the correct prognosis and prescription," Singson's motion stated. "Depending on the outcome of her examination and upon the advice of her doctor, should confinement be necessary, it is also most respectfully requested that accused be placed under hospital arrest also at St. Luke's Hospital, Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City," it added. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News