The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) dismissed allegations of preferential treatment for Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday, September 1, clarifying that his recent hospital visit was carried out strictly under a Sandiganbayan order.
BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera emphasized that the decision to allow the senator’s medical examination at a private hospital was granted by the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, not the detention facility.
“It was not the BJMP that made the decision but they simply followed the orders of the Sandiganbayan that approved Estrada’s request,” Bustinera stated.
The statement follows criticism from rights group Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, which argued that Estrada’s knee condition was non-emergent and could have been treated with basic pain relief or ice packs.
Addressing the pushback, Bustinera noted that the bureau is legally obligated to implement court mandates, adding that “any comparison with other cases should take into account the specific circumstances and applicable court orders in each case.”
Estrada was transferred to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan on August 26 to treat joint effusion and recurring severe discomfort in both knees.
“Accused Estrada has of late been experiencing a flare-up of persistent pain in both knees, making it acutely difficult for him to walk,” the Sandiganbayan noted in its ruling.