MANILA, Philippines — A medical trip for detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada took an unexpected turn Wednesday after his left knee reportedly “snapped” while he was preparing to leave detention for a scheduled X-ray at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan.
Estrada’s office confirmed the incident but said it had no further information on his condition at the time. His orthopedic doctor is expected to provide additional details following the medical examination.
The development came just days after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted Estrada permission to temporarily leave the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas for a knee X-ray. The court had authorized the trip for August 26, allowing him to leave at 11 a.m. and requiring him to return to the detention facility no later than 3 p.m.
Why Estrada was allowed to leave detention
Estrada had asked the anti-graft court for permission to undergo the procedure after experiencing what his camp described as a flare-up of persistent pain in both knees that had made walking increasingly difficult.
Court records cited in multiple reports said Estrada had previously experienced joint effusion and had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that can affect mobility. His orthopedic doctor, Dr. Jose Fernando Syquia, recommended an X-ray to determine whether his knee condition had worsened.
The Sandiganbayan approved the request despite opposition from prosecutors.
Prosecutors had questioned the basis for the medical claims and suggested alternatives, including using a portable X-ray machine or a mobile medical facility at the jail. They also proposed that the examination be conducted at a government hospital.
The court nevertheless allowed Estrada to undergo the procedure at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, subject to strict conditions.
He was ordered to shoulder his hospital bills, medical fees, transportation and other incidental expenses. Only his immediate family, legal counsel, attending medical personnel and security escorts were permitted to accompany him.
The court also prohibited photographs, videos and social-media posts concerning the medical procedure.
The latest twist
The scheduled medical examination gained urgency Wednesday after Estrada’s office reported that his left knee snapped as he was preparing to go to Cardinal Santos.
An earlier report that he had fallen inside a comfort room was not confirmed by his office. Instead, his representatives told Inquirer that he was preparing to leave for the hospital when the incident occurred.
As of the latest available report, Estrada was still being taken to the hospital for the scheduled procedure. There was no confirmed medical finding yet on what caused the reported knee incident, and no conclusion should be drawn about the severity of his condition until his doctors complete their assessment.
Why Estrada is detained
Estrada has been detained at the New Quezon City Jail since June 1 after surrendering to authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant in connection with a non-bailable plunder case.
The case before the Sandiganbayan involves allegations tied to a purported kickback scheme involving ₱573 million in government flood-control projects. Prosecutors have alleged that Estrada was part of an arrangement involving illegal budget insertions and project allocations.
Estrada has repeatedly denied the allegations and maintains that there is no strong evidence that he demanded or solicited kickbacks in connection with the projects.
The senator also has a separate graft case stemming from the same broader controversy, for which the court previously issued an arrest warrant and bail was posted.
For now, the immediate question is no longer simply whether Estrada will undergo the scheduled X-ray — but what doctors will find after the reported knee incident and whether it will affect his medical condition or detention arrangements.
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