Estrada to stay in hospital 2 more weeks

Jailed former President Joseph Estrada is afflicted with chronic bronchitis and acute arthritis, and may have to stay for at least two more weeks at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, doctors said yesterday.

The report by Dr. Salvador Flores came amid heated debates over Estrada’s request for house arrest.

Flores prescribed antibiotics and a series of additional tests on the disgraced leader, necessitating Estrada’s prolonged stay at the VMMC despite a court order for his immediate return to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The former president and his son, outgoing San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, were being detained in a bungalow converted into a jail inside Fort Sto. Domingo, a training and seminar facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force.

Father and son were airlifted last week to the VMMC where they were allowed to cast their votes in the congressional and local polls.

Police reported that Jinggoy was vomiting and complained of severe abdominal pain.

Doctors have yet to issue a certification declaring that the two patients are physically fit to be flown back to Sta. Rosa where they would be detained pending resolution of the plunder and graft charges against them and six co-accused.

Estrada’s medical certificate stated that he had "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease secondary to chronic bronchitis and emphysema with probable bacterial infection."

It also said he was undergoing a two-week antibiotic treatment and rehabilitation for his arthritis.

President Arroyo visited her predecessor at the VMMC last Saturday, and declared she would not oppose his petition to be placed under house arrest.

The President later said she would order the construction of a bungalow inside the sprawling VMMC compound to serve as a special jail for the Estradas.

Interior and Local Go- vernment Secretary Jose Lina said he was also amenable to the construction of a special jail for Estrada at the VMMC compound, but expressed reservations over security for the former head of state.

Lina said the law provides that prisoners awaiting trial should be detained near the court for purposes of speedy disposition of the case.

He said keeping Estrada at the Quezon City Jail would entail serious security problems.

On the other hand, shuttling the Estradas between the court and Fort Sto. Domingo by helicopter would be taxing for the police.

Lina said as a former president, Estrada deserves special treatment.

The plunder case will be heard starting next month by the Sandiganbayan’s third division headed by Justice Anacleto Badoy.

Estrada was ousted on Jan. 20 at the height of a burgeoning people power II backed by both the Catholic Church and the military, paving the way for Mrs. Arroyo’s takeover of the presidency.

Mrs. Arroyo has sought reconciliation with the political opposition in the aftermath of the May 14 elections, largely viewed as a proxy war between her and her predecessor.

"There are many divisions in our country and there should be a healing," Arroyo said. — Perseus Echeminada, Jose Rodel Clapano