Saturday, March 31, 2007 Estrada seeks court's permission to have medical checkup
DETAINED former President Joseph Estrada on Friday asked the Sandiganbayan Special Division to allow him to undergo a full physical examination during the Holy Week at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City.
Through his lawyer, Rene Saguisag filed the petition for a medical pass at the anti-graft court as the former leader continued to complain an "intense and severe back pains".
Saguisag said Estrada would want to consult a doctor about his condition.
It was believed that the severe pains Estrada has been experiencing is because of the surgery performed on him in 2004 and maybe because of his age also.
Estrada underwent a knee-replacement surgery at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital.
It was also then when he was treated for a slip disc at the lower back, which could have been the source of the pain he is experiencing.
The lawyer further noted that the detained leader is turning 70 on April 19, 2007 which means he should have regular medical checkups.
He said the panel is set to present a doctor before the justices to justify the confinement of the former President at the Asian Hospital during the Holy Week,
The defense panel expressed optimism that the court would grant Estrada's appeal.
As this developed, the defense panel also said that San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito will make a personal appeal before the special division of the anti-graft court to allow him to hold his wedding at the Joseph Estrada Youth Camp in Tanay, Rizal on June 9, 2007, the same place where the former President is detained for the charges of plunder.
The court has earlier denied the San Juan mayor's petition for security reasons.
The defense insisted though that it is prepared to submit the list of guests to be invited to enable Estrada's police security detail to screen those who will enter the compound. (DBP/Sunnex)
