Estrada has other ailments — Loi

Sen. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito said yesterday ousted President Joseph Estrada not only needs to have an immediate knee operation abroad but that he also requires urgent medical attention for his various other ailments.

Meanwhile, former Senate president Jovito Salonga said in a statement yesterday the 19 senators and 129 congressmen calling for Mr. Estrada to be allowed to undergo medical treatment in the US are "actually putting undue pressure" on justices of the Sandiganbayan.

"Let us give the Sandiganbayan justices enough elbow room to do what should be done, without interference from the two other branches of government," he said.

"We cannot possibly accommodate all accused criminals, similarly situated as Erap, to leave for abroad, without destroying our system of justice beyond repair," Salinga said.

The "proper formula" in Mr. Estrada’s case should be "justice first, mercy later," he added.

Quoting cardiologist Dr. Rodolfo Soto, Ejercito said her husband must undergo "total replacement" surgery on his left knee and that the cataracts on his eyes have to be removed.

"A United States-trained cardiologist, Soto, who was requested last year by the Arroyo administration to conduct an independent physical checkup on the President, has found that besides suffering from osteoarthritis on both knees, Estrada also needs to undergo further tests and treatment for a number of other serious conditions," she said.

Ejercito said Soto had concurred with findings of the former President’s orthopedic surgeon –Dr. Christopher Mow – that besides the removal of cataracts in his eyes, he also needs to undergo "total replacement" surgery on his left knee.

"Dr. Christopher Mow has informed President Estrada that he needs to undergo an immediate operation to save his knees and pointed out that due to the severity of his condition, certain specialized prostheses and equipment, which are currently available in the United States but not in the Philippines, would be needed for him to undergo total joint replacement arthroscopic surgery," she said.

Ejercito appealed to groups opposed to the former president’s medical treatment abroad to show compassion to his plight.

"I am appealing to those opposing my husband’s request to undergo medical treatment abroad to find compassion in their hearts," she said.

"My husband is already suffering because of the fate that befell him. We are asking for no special treatment from the government; we are just pleading for some humanity, for some respects for the human right to seek the best treatment to cure his ailment."

Ejercito said the former president had the cataract on his left eye removed through laser surgery at the Asian Eye Institute in Rockwell Center, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati in December last year and another on his left eye last Feb. 10.

"We hope that groups opposing my husband’s appeal (to be allowed to undergo surgery in the US) will follow the example of the impeachment prosecutors, who hold not rancor but humanity in their hearts despite being on the opposing side during President Estrada’s aborted trial," she said.

Ejercito said Soto diagnosed the former resident to be suffering from osteoarthritis on both knees, with his left knee already in danger of being deformed if surgery is not done at the soonest possible time.

"Dr. Soto’s report to Mrs. Arroyo and the Sandiganbayan showed that President Estrada has ‘degenerative joint diseases’ (osteoarthritis) on both knees with beginning genu-varum deformity of the left knee (bow-leg deformity)’," she said.

Ejercito said Soto informed the Sandiganbayan in a letter that the venue for the former President’s surgery will be "at the patient’s discretion" upon concurrence of the court.

Ejercito said her husband’s condition has worsened, making it more difficult for him to stand and walk even for short periods, and that doctors have advised him to use a wheelchair so as not to further damage his knees.