Son of Mark Jimenez testifies for 'abducted' mom

Sun.Star: A SON of former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez testified before the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in behalf of his stepmother who is currently "detained" in a drug rehabilitation facility in Parañaque City. Virgilio Crespo told Las Piñas RTC Branch 202 Judge Elizabeth Yu Guray during the hearing on the writ of habeas corpus filed by Rose Flaminiano that his stepmother's life is at risk due to her "detention" since she would not be able to take her medicines, including barbiturates and anti-depressants. Flamininao is the sister of Carol Castañeda-Jimenez who was allegedly abducted last Wednesday by a group of unidentified men in front of the victim's residence at the Tuscany Condominium in Makati City. Castañeda was brought to the Silvercrest Foundation, a drug rehabilitation facility in Parañaque City owned by Jimenez' niece Diana Crespo, according to Mark's lawyer Lorna Kapunan. Mark said his wife was hooked on drugs and that the incident should not be treated as abduction. "Sinagip ko misis ko kasi baliw na s'ya. May certification sa doctor. Napakaraming gamut na iniinom noon (I saved my wife. A doctor certified she's taking a lot of medicines}," Mark said. A copy of an "application for voluntary confinement for treatment and rehabilitation through representation" dated May 16, 2007 and signed by Jimenez addressed to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) citing Castañeda as a "drug dependent" was also cited by Mark when he was quizzed by the media after the alleged abduction. Flaminiano also took the witness stand during Monday's hearing and narrated to the court the alleged kidnapping.