Gigi Reyes not allowed to leave hospital, fails to attend arraignment

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes failed to attend her arraignment for plunder at the Sandiganbayan Friday morning as she remained confined at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital after suffering an anxiety attack in her detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Wednesday night.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Inspector Aris Villaester said that Reyes was not brought to the anti-graft court as she was not cleared by the hospital.

In a medical bulletin released at 9 a.m., the Taguig Pateros District Hospital said Reyes no longer has headaches and palpitations. It added that the back pain being complained about by Reyes has also lessened.

The bulletin, however, added that Reyes still lacked the appetite to eat and gets dizzy when she walks.

Reyes' blood pressure Friday morning was at 100/70.

The hospital said Reyes would remain under observation with the next medical update to be released at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Reyes was rushed to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital early Thursday shortly after being booked and transferred at the nearby Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Female Dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Hospital director Dr. Prudencio Sta. Lucia said Reyes was rushed to the emergency room of the hospital at about 1:05 a.m. by jail guards from the BJMP. She was accompanied by a BJMP doctor and at least two relatives.

Sta. Lucia said initial examination of Reyes showed that she had suffered from hypertension and an attack of neurocirculatory asthenia (NCA).

Neurocirculatory asthenia is defined as a syndrome of breathlessness, fear of effort, a sense of fatigue, precordial pain and palpitation. It is generally considered to be particular presentation of an anxiety disorder.

The doctor said Reyes' blood pressure was 170/110 when she arrived at the hospital. He added that the plunder suspect complained of anxiety and stiffening of hands and feet.

The relatives who accompanied Reyes also told the doctors that she had a seizure.

Sta. Lucia told reporters that Reyes has histories of Bell’s Palsy and has a coronary artery disease.

Reyes and her former boss, Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, are co-accused in the plunder and graft charges related to the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

She surrendered to the Sandiganbayan on Friday last week after the issuance of a warrant of arrest against for her plunder case. She was initially detained at the anti-graft court's basement detention facility and then ordered transferred to the Female Dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Reyes was taken to an isolation room that is about 1.5 x 6 meters, which has a double-decker bunk bed and an electric fan. She shared the room with a pregnant inmate.

She was supposed to be transferred from the isolation room to an ordinary cell, which she will share with other inmates.

Reyes' lawyers have asked the Sandiganbayan to order her transfer to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame as their client fears for her life at Camp Bagong Diwa.