Gigi Reyes refuses special treatment in PGH procedure

MANILA, Philippines — Detained lawyer Jessica "Gigi" Reyes asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) not to be given special treatment for her brain scanning procedures Monday at the state-owned Philippine General Hospital.

BJMP-National Capital Region spokesman Aris Villaester said Reyes, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile's chief of staff, also agreed to pay for all the medical procedures at the PGH.

"We were informed that even though the said procedures needed some advance preparations such as blood tests and fasting, Atty. Reyes preferred an out-patient arrangement as she did not want to abuse the humanitarian considerations accorded to her by the Sandiganbayan justices," said Villaester.

"She likewise requested for her immediate transfer back to the BJMP on Camp Bagong Diwa in taguig City after the said tests have been accomplished," Villaester added.

Reyes earlier asked the Sandiganbayan for permission to have her brain scanned, following facial spasms.

In her three-page motion, Reyes, who is charged with graft and plunder in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, asked the anti-graft court to allow her to "undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA) of the brain."

Reyes also sought permission to consult with neurosurgeon Willy Perez.

Through her lawyers, Reyes explained that the request was borne out of several symptoms that have presented themselves after she hit her head on a wall.

"On August 5, accused Reyes suffered another anxiety attack which caused her to hit her head on the wall of her detention cell at the BJMP Taguig City Jail. After manifesting intermittent spasms of her right eyelid and cheek as well as noticing a progressive slurring of her speech and a slight deposit of saliva on her right lip, accused Reyes requested Dr. Martesio Perez, a neurologist at the Makati Medical Center to visit her," Reyes said.

According to Reyes' counsel, upon inspection, Perez advised her to have her brain scanned for a possible tumor.

"Dr. Perez observed Reyes' right hemi facial spasm and noted that the same may be caused by pressure on the facial nerve by a tumor or an artery," the motion said.

Reyes earlier suffered severe panic attacks when she was transferred to the Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory inside Camp Bagong Diwa.

Reyes is accused of plunder alongside Enrile and two other senators for their alleged involvement in the embezzling of millions in government funds known as the "pork barrel" scam.