MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea of a former Quezon town mayor for the transfer of his detention to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) detention facility in Camp Karingal, Quezon City for medical treatment.
Former San Francisco, Quezon mayor Joselito Alega was convicted of unlawful appointment last year and sentenced to a month in prison by the Sandiganbayan.
He started serving his sentence on Jan. 4 and is detained at the CIDG-Regional Field Unit in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
He asked for a transfer as Camp Karingal is nearer the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and other public hospitals in East Avenue.
Camp Karingal to East Avenue may take about 15 minutes faster than coming from Camp Crame.
Alega said his physicians advised that he “needs to be supervised 24 hours” due to issues arising from a mild stroke and other illnesses.
The court resolution Tuesday, however, stated that it “finds no basis to grant” the request for a transfer and noted that under the rules, the sentence classified Alega as a municipal prisoner who may serve his sentence in a district or a municipal jail.
The court also said that “aside from his bare allegations of his medical condition, there is nothing that would show that he needs constant or urgent medical attention” and “did not show that there is no hospital capable of addressing his medical needs near the Quezon District Jail.”
“At any rate, if the accused, while serving his sentence, needs to undergo medical examination or treatment for a specific concern, the court may allow the same upon the filing of the necessary motion,” it added.
The Sandiganbayan affirmed Alega’s conviction for violation of Article 244 of the Revised Penal Code on unlawful appointment after he was found guilty of appointing Rosauro Fernandez as municipal administrator despite lack of qualifications.
He was sentenced to a prison term of one month and one day and ordered to pay a fine of PHP1,000. (PNA)
