Ex-PNP chief Razon seeks furlough for kidney check-up

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division to allow him to leave detention for two days to undergo a kidney check-up.

Razon, who is facing graft and malversation charges in connection with the alleged fictitious repair of the PNP armored vehicles in 2007, said his attending physicians had advised him to undergo a repeat CT stonogram after he was diagnosed of having a kidney stone in November 2015.

Razon said the stonogram procedure, which aims to detect if there is still any developing stone in either of his kidneys, is scheduled to be conducted from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on February 15 at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City as the service "is currently not available at the PNP General Hospital."

Razon said he is also scheduled to undergo check-ups with his endocrinologist for his diabetes also on February 15 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and with his urologist on February 18 at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

"P/Dir. Gen. Razon thus respectfully implores the Honorable Court to allow him medical leave for special, humanitarian and compelling reasons," the former PNP chief's motion read.

"This motion is solely filed based on the foregoing reasons and is not intended to delay these cases," it added.

The graft and malversation cases against Razon stemmed from the alleged fictitious repair and maintenance of PNP's V-150 armored vehicles worth P385.48 million in 2007 during his term as PNP chief.

Razon, former PNP National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Geary Barias, former PNP comptroller Eliseo Dela Paz and several other police officials accused in the case have been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since August 2013.

The court had earlier denied their respective petitions to post bail for the malversation case citing the strong evidence presented by the prosecution against them.

In convincing the court to grant his plea, Razon assured that he is not a flight risk as proven by his behavior when the cases were filed before the court in 2013.

"P/Dir. Gen. Razon participated in the proceedings from the start. When the criminal informations were filed in the Sandiganbayan, P/Dir. Gen. Razon did not flee and instead, immediately submitted himself to its jurisdiction," the motion read.

Razon further said that he could not withstand a life as a fugitive given his fragile health condition.

"P/Dir. Gen. Razon is already 63 years old, diabetic and is on daily medication. His detention at the PNP for the past two years has taken and adverse toll on his health condition. He will not be able to withstand the physical stress of life as a fugitive whether here or abroad," Razon said.

The Fourth Division had earlier granted a four-day furlough to Razon on November 13 to 16 last year to undergo CT stonogram and kidney stone removal. —ALG, GMA News