Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr. has a successful appendectomy conducted in a government hospital, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed on Wednesday, June 18. 

In a press briefing, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said that Teves underwent the operation at around 5:30 p.m. of June 18 and is in good condition as of 12 noon of the same day.

For security reasons, Bustinera remained mum on where Teves was operated but assured the public that the procedure was done in a government hospital.

At around 7 p.m. of June 17, Teves complained of severe stomach pain but refused to take any medicine to relieve his agony.

Unable to bear with the agonizing pain, the jail nurse on duty gave Teves a medicine at around 12 midnight and at the start of the monitoring administered by the BJMP physician.

The attending physician finally recommended that Teves be rushed to the nearest government hospital when the medicines failed to relieve his stomach pain.

After the medical evaluation and diagnosis, the attending physicians saw the need for Teves to undergo an ‘appendectomy’ in another government hospital. 

“Ni-refer po siya to another government hospital na mas capable at dinala din po siya alas onse kagabi, Naoperahan po siya alas singko ng madaling araw kanina (He (Teves) was referred to another more capable government hospital and was transported there at around 11 p.m. The procedure was done at around 5 a.m. earlier (June 18),’’ Bustinera recounted.

Bustinera asserted that the BJMP’s main protocol is Teves’ security, explaining why jail guards are deployed at the hospital compound and “24/7 custodial personnel’’ were inside his room.

He noted that the BJMP is in constant coordination with the court since no court order was issued due to Teves’ emergency situation.

So, nag-inform na tayo sa court and kung kailangan pa ho ng further stay sa hospital, of course we will follow the medical advice at iimpormahan din po namin ang korte. And, all movement po ay well secured at rest assured na after ma-discharge siya or cleared na siya ay babalik na po siya (Teves) sa kulungan (So, we already informed the court of the further hospital confinement, of course we will follow the medical advice and provide the detail to the court. And, all movement is well-secured and rest assured after the discharge or cleared, he will be returned to prison),’’ Bustinera assured.

Bustinera pointed out that the BJMP is currently coordinating with the attending physician to determine if Teves is cleared for discharge.

In the case of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, Bustinera said that he remains under the custody of the BJMP Taguig City Male Dormitory (TCJMD) since June 11.

He noted that the TCJMD is the BJMP’s jail facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa.

The Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) transferred Zdorovetskiy’s custody to the BJMP by virtue of the commitment order issued by Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 153. 

At present, Zdorovetskiy is under medical quarantine much like any of the BJMP’s ordinary persons deprived of liberty (PDL).

“Ongoing po iyong, hindi ho muna hinahalo sa ibang populasyon (That is on-going, he (Zdorovetskiy) has yet to be brought to the general (PDL) population),’’ Bustinera furthered.

The BJMP official noted that there are exclusive jail facilities for incarcerated foreigners but we decided to adhere to the court order, directing that Zdorovetskiy be brought to the Taguig City Jail Male Dormitory.

“We reiterate that we treat everyone equally, wala ho tayong VIP (very important person) treatment. For the cases of foreign PDL po, ang additional lamang hong protocol diyan is coordination with the embassy, of course iyong access sa visitation ng mga diplomatic personnel natin na kung saan concerning iyong ang kaniyang citizenship (We reiterate that we treat everyone equally, we do not accord VIP treatment. For the cases of foreign PDL, our only additional protocol is the coordination with the embassy, of course the access to visitation of our diplomatic personnel concerning Zdorovetskiy citizenship),’’ Bustinera pointed out.

On the part of the BJMP, Bustinera stressed that Zdorovetskiy’s criminal case with the Taguig City Regional Trial Court must be concluded before his deportation can be processed.

“Tuluy-tuloy naman po ang coordination namin with the Bureau of Immigration para sa proseso nito, again, subject to the completion of his criminal case po (We have continuously coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration for the (deportation) process, subject to the completion of his (Zdorovetskiy) criminal case),’’ Bustinera continued.