Detainees: We’re waiting for Gigi

MANILA, Philippines - Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes is smoking in her room and doctors at the Philippine Heart Center have found no affliction that would prevent her detention in jail, hospital sources said yesterday. 

Detainees at the female dormitory of the Camp Bagong Diwa police jail in Bicutan are waiting for Reyes’ return, a human rights group said.

Cristina Guevarra, secretary-general of Hustisya, said political detainees are eager to hear Reyes’ own account of the pork barrel scam.

Reyes, who has been charged with plunder along with her former boss Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile before the Sandiganbayan, was supposed to be transferred to the Bicutan jail from the holding cell of the anti-graft court on July 9.

However, she was moved to the Taguig-Pateros Hospital after she reportedly suffered a panic attack while being booked.

A group of former detainees said that Reyes had not even seen her detention cell when she went into hysterics.

Guevarra said the alleged special treatment accorded to Reyes had prevented detainees from meeting her.

The female dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa, which is run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, has 138 high-value inmates, including suspected members of the Moro National Liberation Front and New People’s Army.

Guevarra slammed the transfer of Reyes to the Philippine Heart Center from the Taguig-Pateros Hospital Friday night, saying political detainess have to wait for at least a month for onfinement even after the Taguig hospital gave her an all-clear in her health condition.