GMA co-accused allowed to have eye examination

by Jeffrey Damicog | MB - Google Photo

After pleading that he be allowed to save his eyesight because of complications from diabetes, a co-accused of former President and now-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo has been permitted by the Sandiganbayan First Division to undergo medical examination at a private hospital.

In a resolution signed by First Division Chairman Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justices Rodolfo Ponferrada and Rafael Lagos, the graft court permitted former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member and budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas to undergo a medical examination at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City “for humanitarian reasons.”

With this, Aguas, who has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, was allowed to go to the hospital yesterday between 8 a.m. up to noon for a laboratory examination for diabetic treatment.

Aguas was also permitted to go back today  to the hospital between 9 a.m. up to noon for an eye examination by an ophtlamologist.

The graft court has ordered PNP acting chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina to coordinate with the Sandigabayan Sheriffs in providing adequate escorts and security for Aguas.

The tribunal assured police that all expenses that will be incurred by the PNP in securing the accused will be shouldered by Aguas.

The Fifth Division also ordered police to transport Aguas not earlier than one hour before the appointed time of examination and that the accused shall not be allowed to stay at the hospital beyond noon on the appointed days and must only be brought directly back to detention.

The graft court also forbade the media from conducting any interviews and that the communications and electronic gadgets of the accused and his companions should be under the control and supervision of police security.

Aguas is one of plunder co-accused of Arroyo for allegedly diverting from 2008 to 2010 more than R360 million from the Confidential/Intelligence Fund (CIF) of the PCSO.

Citing that his eyesight was already down to 30 percent, Aguas had informed the court that he was examined at the Custodial Center by Dr. Erwin Erfe who “attested to the need of the Movant to get medical help from an opthalmologist to save his eyesight.”