Estrada’s checkup completed today

Doctors at the state-run Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) are set to wind up today their medical checkup on deposed President Joseph Estrada, paving the way for his return to jail at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

VMMC medical director Dr. Salvador Flores said the last examination on the former president would be conducted today. He did not elaborate on the findings.

Estrada and his son, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, have been confined under tight security at the executive suite of the VMMC since May 12 when they were airlifted from Fort Sto. Domingo, a training and seminar camp of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

They were transferred after the Estrada father and son complained of feeling under the weather, and were subsequently allowed to vote in the May 14 election while in hospital.

A special team of election officials visited the Estradas at the hospital to receive their votes in Monday’s elections.

But the Sandiganbayan ordered yesterday PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza to explain the extended stay of the Estradas in hospital.

In a two-page resolution, Associate Justice Anacleto Badoy said that the two prisoners should have been brought back to Laguna immediately after they had cast their ballot.

"Should they (Estradas) still be in the hospital on election day, they will be allowed in the Veterans Hospital ... under Comelec’s supervision subject always to the condition that... Mendoza bring them back to Fort Sto. Domingo immediately after ...," it said.

Attending physicians of the elder Estrada have diagnosed that the ousted chief executive has acute bronchitis while Jinggoy has liver problems.

Badoy, who heads the anti-graft court’s third division hearing the plunder charge against Estrada, however noted that the newspapers in the past days have reported the ousted president and his son were "in good health."

He also ordered the prisoners’ doctors to submit within 24 hours a report on the Estradas’ real state of health.

After their arrest on April 25, father and son were initially detained at Camp Crame, but were later transferred to the VMMC as a so-called pro-Estrada people power III heightened at nearby EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

As the rallyists marched to Malacañang on Labor Day in a bid to force the ouster of President Arroyo, the Estradas were taken by helicopter to Fort Sto. Domingo to frustrate any possible attempts to spring them out of jail.

Mendoza said the return of the Estradas to their bungalow-type jail at Fort Sto. Domingo depends on the recommendation of their physicians.

Estrada reportedly complained of difficulty in breathing and arthritis prior to their transfer to the VMMC last Monday.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of the Estradas, along with six co-accused including lawyer Edward Serapio on a plunder case, a non-bailable capital offense punishable by death.

Estrada was unseated by a military-backed popular uprising called people power 2 that was triggered by allegations of massive corruption and illegally enriching himself while in office. – With Jose Rodel Clapano