Makati court moves hearing on Napoles bid to stay at OsMak

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Wednesday postponed the hearing of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles’ motion to be allowed to stay at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) until all her routine and regular check-ups are concluded.

This after Napoles’ lawyers Bruce Rivera, Fay Isagiurre Singson and Evita Magnolia Ansaldo failed to present the businesswoman’s doctors who performed the hysterectomy on her at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) last April 23.

Last May 7, Napoles’ lawyers filed a seven-page “Very Urgent Ex Parte Motion To Observe The Status Quo Ante With Motion For Further Hospital Confinement Due To Medical Reasons” with the court.

According to the motion, although Napoles’ doctors have issued a medical bulletin last May 6 advising that Napoles is now given clearance to be clinically discharged from Osmak, she still needs to undergo checkups once-a-week for one month, once every two weeks for the succeeding month and a check-up a month thereafter.

The lawyers also asked that Napoles be made to undergo complete bed rest at a place which is more “sanitized, hygienic and sterile.”

Napoles, through her lawyers, is asking the court to allow her to be confined for an additional period of time at the Osmak to enable her to have a complete bed rest for speedy and full recovery, for easier mobility, practicality and convenience, not only for her, but also for her doctors and the security personnel who will be burdened to transfer her to the hospital and back for her check-ups.

Earlier, Napoles’ doctors said she is fully-recovered and could now be released. Doctors removed Napoles’ uterus and two ovaries after a cyst was found in her uterus.

Judge Elmo Alameda re-scheduled the hearing to Thursday at 2 p.m. and directed Osmak director Dr. Perry Peralta and Napoles’ personal obstetrician Elsie Badillo-Pascua to appear.

Alameda said the court would want to know if Napoles is really declared discharged from Osmak and could now be returned to her place of detention at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“Your client is now long overdue,” Alameda told Napoles’ lawyers in open court.

Napoles was admitted for treatment at the Osmak on March 31 and was operated on last April 23. Peralta earlier told the court that Napoles would only be staying at the hospital for 26 days.

Rivera later told reporters that Napoles’ doctors had hesitations attending the hearing after they have previously testified and had already issued a certification saying that Napoles could already be discharged from the hospital.

“The doctors have initial hesitation to come because they have testified before. They have issued a certificate hoping that it would be sufficient however Judge Alameda wanted the doctors to come to court and validate the certification. We would be doing that tomorrow,” said Rivera.

Rivera added that it would be best for Napoles to be allowed to extend her stay at the Osmak saying that Napoles’ wound following the surgery has not yet fully healed.

“I talked to the doctors and they told me that it is not the outside wound na dapat tignan. The outside wound is already healed. However, the inside wound needs to be checked and you cannot do that with a physical examination. You have to use other medical facilities for that. So kailangan sa ospital. Judge Alameda does not the condition talaga, I could not blame him,” he said.

“If it is a physical wound, it is easy to check at Sto. Domingo. You can just open her stomach and see if it healed or not. However, this is a total hysterectomy. May mga wounds sa ilalim. You can not ascertain if a wound is healed or not if it is just a physical examination. It has to be done with facilities,” he added.