Sandiganbayan allows Jinggoy to undergo therapy in Cardinal Santos

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Tuesday allowed detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to leave Camp Crame twice a week for two weeks to undergo physical therapy for shoulder pain.

 

“After due consideration of both oral and written arguments of the parties, and for humanitarian reason, the Court resolves to grant accused-movant's prayer. [Accused] Jinggoy Estrada is allowed to leave his place of detention at the PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame and to proceed to the Physical Therapy Department of the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital to undergo a therapy program for two hours, two times a week for two weeks, starting Nov. 25, 2014 up to the first week of December,” said the two page resolution dated November 20 but released to the media on Tuesday. 

 

The resolution limited Estrada’s time in Cardinal Santos to two hours, to be strictly monitored by escorts from the Philippine National Police.

 

“Accused Estrada shall be transported from his detention cell at Camp Crame not earlier than 8 o'clock in the morning of Nov. 25, 2014, to the Physical Therapy Department of the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital at Greenhills, and he will be allowed to stay thereat for two hours only, not to go beyond 11 o'clock in the morning of said date, and thereafter be returned immediately to his detention cell at Camp Crame,” the resolution said.

 

The Sandiganbayan also strictly instructed Estrada’s PNP escorts to make sure the senator does not go anywhere else other than Cardinal Santos.

 

“The PNP shall see to it that accused Estrada will not go to any other place other than the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital[and] the use of any means of communications and electronics by the accused and those who will accompany him shall be under the control and supervision of the detailed PNP security,” the court said. 

 

Estrada is also forbidden from granting any media interviews, and is expected to pay for all expenses incurred by the court and the PNP during his therapy sessions.

 

The senator is currently detained at the Philippine National Police’ Custodial Center for allegations of graft and plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam. — RSJ, GMA News