Gigi seeks outpatient arrangement for 2 medical tests

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes asked yesterday for outpatient arrangement for her two medical procedures at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

She arrived at the PGH in an ambulance escorted by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail guards.

BJMP-National Capital Region spokesman Aris Villaester said Reyes was not given special treatment when she underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) procedures.

“We were informed that even though the procedures needed some advance preparations such as blood tests and fasting, attorney Reyes preferred an outpatient arrangement as she did not want to abuse the humanitarian considerations accorded to her by the Sandiganbayan justices,” he said.

“She likewise requested for her immediate transfer back to the BJMP in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City after the tests have been accomplished.”

Reyes agreed to pay for all the medical procedures, Villaester said.

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

She also sought permission to consult with neurosurgeon Willy Lopez.

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

“On Aug. 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,” one of the lawyers said.

“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 Martesio Perez, a neurologist at the Makati Medical Center, to visit her.” 

Reyes’ counsel said Perez had advised his client 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’,” read the motion.

Reyes suffered severe panic attacks when she was transferred to the BJMP Female Dormitory in  Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Brain scan

Willie Ong, a fellow of the Philippine Heart Association, said Reyes may have to undergo brain scan if she is having seizures.

“It’s really subjective,” he said.

Ong said a brain scan might be important for Reyes for her peace of mind and safety.

“For me, there is nothing wrong if she undergoes the tests,” he said. “I don’t think she would get anything by going through a scan.” 

Face-to-Face

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada  came face to face with Benhur Luy yesterday when Luy took the witness stand at the Sandiganbayan during Estrada’s bail hearing yesterday.

Luy started his lengthy testimony by identifying himself, his personal circumstances and four different affidavits that he has so far executed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Estrada was seated beside his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, inside the courtroom of the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division.

His mother Loi and brother Jude were seated behind him. He listened intently to Luy’s statements as his lawyers tried to block everything that would not be favorable to their client.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines, Estrada said he had never met Luy in his entire life.

“I don’t know him,” he said in Filipino.

“I’ve never met him. I’ve never dealt with him.”

Estrada showed no signs that he knew what Luy would say on the witness stand would threaten him.

Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who sat with Fifth Division chairman Roland Jurado and Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, ordered Luy to answer questions from prosecutor Maria Janina Hidalgo in English, not in Filipino, to do away with the need to translate and expedite the proceedings.

Some tension and confusion occurred when Luy was asked to identify his affidavits.

Defense counsels complained that they were being asked to accept photocopies of documents that are different from the original.

Prosecutor Hidalgo ended up admitting a mix up of documents relating to the case of Estrada and those used in the case of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

Justice Gesmundo almost called for a suspension of the proceedings to allow the prosecution and the defense to review and agree on the authenticity of some 200 pages of documentary evidence.

Luy mentioned the names of Estrada, Revilla and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, when asked with whom Napoles and her JLN Corp. transacted in the pork barrel fund scam.

Luy  pointed his thumb to Estrada, who was seated just a few meters away from him.

Defense lawyers then took turns objecting, on the grounds that Luy’s testimony was a combination of conclusions, speculations and hearsay.

However, the Sandiganbayan allowed the prosecution to proceed with its questions.

At one point, Napoles defense lawyer Stephen David asked justices to put on record how Luy kept smiling while undergoing direct-examination “as if this is a game.”

In response, Justice Gesmundo said he should let the anti-graft court worry about the issue of Luy’s demeanor.

After the hearing, Estrada agreed with David that the prosecution witness does not appear like he is serious in what he is doing.

“You be the judge,” he said in Filipino. “Even the justices have noticed his demeanor.”

Estrada said he is more interested in how Luy would fare on cross-examination.

“Why would I be nervous,” he asked in Filipino.

“I am not hiding anything. I don’t know him. In fact the prosecution panel is crumbling. – With Michael Punongbayan, Sheila Crisostomo