The lawyer of former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada has once again asked the court to allow his client’s transfer to Makati Medical Center (MMC) following reports of renewed rectal bleeding last week.
In an urgent motion, Atty. Noel Malaya cited the recommendation of Estrada’s family physician, Dr. Lorenzo Jocson, who argued that the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), where Estrada is currently detained, lacks the necessary medical equipment.
According to Jocson, Estrada experienced fresh bleeding on July 26 and July 30, prompting the doctor to be called in for examination.
However, Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, chair of the division, downplayed fears about Estrada’s condition, stressing that it was not life-threatening.
“Isa sa aking kapatid ang nagdurugo ang puwit dahil sa almoranas,” Nazario remarked, noting that hemorrhoids, though painful, are not fatal.
She added that if a colonOscopic procedure were indeed necessary, the equipment could simply be borrowed from MMC instead of moving Estrada out of VMMC.
Meanwhile, Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval expressed doubt over VMMC’s capacity to handle such cases despite its resources.
“Everytime na lang na may sakit si Jinggoy ilalabas, what kind of hospital is VMMC? I understand that this is supplied by the US, bakit parang walang kakuwenta-kuwentang ospital?” Sandoval said.
