Erap ‘far from paralyzed’

Ousted President Joseph Estrada is "far from being paralyzed" despite the arthritis in his knees, his physician told the court late Wednesday.

Dr. Tyrone Reyes told a special division of the Sandiganbayan that Estrada would have a hard time walking, but he would not be paralyzed as he could still move his knees.

Quoting Reyes, Deputy Special Prosecutor Robert Kallos said: "The possibility of a paralysis is nil since this would entail the loss of feeling in his limbs."

Reyes testified in court in connection with the request of defense lawyers for Estrada to be allowed a weekly therapy at his 15-hectare estate across Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, where the ousted president is detained.

Reyes, a STAR columnist, told reporters it was not necessary for Estrada to undergo therapy at his resthouse because the place "does not really matter" as long as he gets the treatment.

"The location is immaterial as long as the equipment is there and there are expert therapists," he said.

Kallos said prosecutors want Estrada’s therapy done in his place of detention at Camp Capinpin as the needed equipment could be installed anywhere.

"(The equipment) is portable and could be brought anywhere," he said. "They could be placed in any room, even in (Estrada’s) living room."

The equipment could be stored in another place after the thrice-a-week therapy so as not to cramp Estrada’s detention quarters, Kallos added.

Earlier, Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to undergo therapy at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan so he could visit his 98-year-old mother, Doña Mary Marcelo vda. de Ejercito. — Delon Porcalla