Court allows Napoles to undergo medical test

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 has allowed businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles to undergo medical examination for possible ovarian tumor at the Camp Crame General Hospital tomorrow.

In a two-page order, presiding Judge Elmo Alameda said the hospital has the facilities for the examinations that Napoles needs to undergo.

He said Napoles’ doctors from the St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig may accompany her during the examination, adding that the prosecution panel did not object to his ruling.

Alameda also requested the director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 4 to escort Napoles from her detention cell and during her return from the hospital.

Chief Superintendent Alejandro Advincula, head of the Philippine National Police Health Service, said at least three doctors – obstetrician/gynecologist, internist and family doctor – would attend to Napoles.

“It will be a check-up for the bleeding secondary to the ovarian cysts and at the same time series of tests that include ultrasound,” said Advincula in a press briefing yesterday. “And we will try to finish all the procedures in one day.”

He said the medical check-up and laboratory tests would cost at least P3,000.

“We all have the facilities that may be needed. We are ready to accommodate her. We have experiences in the past that also include handling of the security,” he said.

He said the presence of Napoles at the hospital would not disrupt or affect operations at the hospital.

If Napoles needs to be confined, Advincula said she would be placed on a so-called Public Order Violators room.

Enough facility

During the hearing of Napoles’ urgent motion to conduct medical examination, Senior Inspector Michael Angelo Luna, medical officer of the Special Action Force assigned to look after Napoles, said the hospital at Camp Crame has the facility, equipment and doctors for her trans-vaginal ultrasound and other tests. He added that the tests could be done in a day.

Napoles, through her lawyer Fay Isaguirre Singson, asked the Makati RTC Branch 150 on Feb. 18 to allow her confinement at St. Luke’s in Taguig to undergo a thorough and comprehensive medical examination for a possible ovarian tumor.

In a four-page urgent motion, Napoles also asked that the needed examination be conducted by her obstetrician-gynecologist, Elsie Badillo-Pascua, at St. Luke’s Global City.

In an earlier urgent motion on Oct. 24, Napoles’ lawyer noted that his client was rushed to the emergency room of the Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center due to severe abdominal pains. Prior to this, Singson said Napoles had been complaining of profuse menstrual bleeding for nine consecutive days.

Singson noted that on Dec. 14, Napoles’ endocrinologist from St. Luke’s Global City, Michael Lim Villa, examined her at Fort Sto. Domingo after she complained of hypoglycemia, drastic weight loss, chest pains, severe abdominal pains and profuse menstrual bleeding.

Singson said Villa, when apprised of the results of Napoles’ CT scan on Oct. 24, 2013, surmised it was ovarian tumor, and suggested that Pascua examine her.

He said Pascua in turn recommended further gynecological workup, including a TVS, comprehensive medical check-up and admission to a reputable hospital.

Singson said the examinations could not be conducted in Fort Sto. Domingo for lack of facilities. –With Cecille Suerte Felipe