Sandiganbayan allows ex-Sen. Estrada to undergo medical checkup

The Sandiganbayan has allowed detained former Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to undergo a medical checkup for his aching shoulder. (PNA photo)

MANILA—The Sandiganbayan has allowed detained former Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to undergo a medical checkup for his aching shoulder.

In a one-page minute resolution, the anti-graft court allowed Estrada to be brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City to undergo medical examination.

Among the procedures to be conducted on the former senator are the MRI and X-ray.

The former senator will be allowed to leave at 12 p.m. on Thursday and return to the Philippine National Police (PNP) detention facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City at 6 p.m. the same day.

Estrada is detained in Camp Crame for the “non-bailable” offense of plunder filed against him in connection with his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

He allegedly channeled his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) to the “bogus” non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, from which he allegedly “pocketed” millions of pesos in “kickbacks”.

Napoles is the alleged “brains” behind the PHP10-billion pork barrel and the PHP900-million Malampaya Fund scams.