Sunday, February 04, 2007
Lawyer says ex-senator can campaign, run for May polls
FORMER senator Gregorio Honasan is "fit to campaign and run" in the May 14 elections after he showed no sign of serious ailment or injury during a medical checkup at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City, a lawyer said.
Daniel Gutierrez, a lawyer for Honasan's coup d' etat case, said aside from a "slightly elevated cholesterol level," Honasan's condition was okay but added his doctors prescribed medicine to help blood circulation.
He said the former lawmaker's blood pressure and blood sugar level was normal while his fractured left foot, which was the main reason cited by his lawyers for the conduct of a medical checkup, was healing well adding that they expected it to be fully healed by next month.
Another Honasan's lawyer, Vic Lansang, said there was still discoloration in the injured foot of their client but added that there is nothing to worry about his condition.
"He's (Honasan) okay he can walk without the aid of crutches but he was still limping a bit when he walks," said Lansang adding that his client does not want to be seen as complaining as he "is used to pain and difficulties" being a former Army combat officer.
At his previous public appearance during the arraignment of his case at the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) last year, Honasan was limping and wearing crutches to help him walk.
Lansang said Honasan underwent several medical tests, including chest X-rays, blood pressure checkup, blood test, and cholesterol and prostate test which lasted for nearly two hours.
Earlier, Honasan's lawyers expressed concern about the discoloration and the pain the former legislator felt on his fractured foot prompting them to ask the court for its approval for a medical checkup.
On Friday, Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel granted the motion to have Honasan's injured foot X-rayed and give his custodians from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday for the checkup.
The injuries were sustained when Honasan tried to evade a composite military and police personnel who arrested him on November 15 at the posh Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon city after nine months in hiding.
Honasan arrived at the hospital at 9 a.m. in a 10-vehicle convoy bearing heavily armed personnel from the elite PNP Special Action Force (SAF) augmented by non-uniformed personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from his detention quarters at Fort. Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
He was wearing a blue jacket and jeans and was accompanied by medical personnel from the PNP General Hospital.
The authorities maintained tight security measures in and around the hospital preventing members of the media from getting near the controversial detainee.
CIDG Deputy Chief for Metro Manila Leo Marzan said they are now preparing for Honasan's next public appearance on February 7 where he will file his certificate of candidacy (COC) as an independent senator before the Commission on Election (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Pimentel earlier approved the former lawmaker's request to personally file his COC.
He has also approved a similar request of Honasan's co-accused in the coup case, Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, who is also running for senator in the coming elections, on February 6.
Honasan was charged for his alleged involvement in the short-lived 2003 Oakwood mutiny staged by about 300 junior officers and enlisted personnel.
Aside from the coup charges, authorities also linked Honasan to a purported power grab in February last year. The alleged plot was cited by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one of the reasons for her to place the country under a state of emergency.
Honasan gained fame during the failed coup and subsequent people power uprising in 1986 that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
But he went on to lead several coup attempts against the fledgling Aquino administration in the late 1980s and become one of the most wanted persons in the country until he was given an amnesty by the administration of Fidel Ramos.
He later ran and won as an independent senator in 1995 and in 2001. (AH/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 4, 2007 issue)
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