Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada has asked an anti-graft court for permission to travel to Hong Kong for knee surgery.
The deposed leader, who is awaiting trial on charges of plunder, invoked 'humanitarian and compassionate grounds' in a petition asking he be allowed to fly to Hong Kong for the surgery, which is tentatively scheduled for late November.
Doctors said the film star-turned-politician suffers from arthritis and torn knee ligaments. He also has a cataract and cyst in his left eye and several slipped discs in his back. They fear his back ailment could worsen if his knee condition is not treated.
Estrada's lawyer, Rene Saguisag, filed a petition on Thursday seeking permission to allow Estrada to go under the knife of renowned Californian orthopaedic surgeon Christopher Mow at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital. The total cost of the medical and doctor's fees would be about US$55,000, Dr Mow said in a letter attached to the petition.
Mr Saguisag told the court Estrada would be admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital for 19 days from November 24, and that he would leave the Philippines on November 22 and return on December 15.
'He is anxious to have the long-delayed operation done, and would like certainly to be home at the start of the season of grace and goodwill,' the petition said.
Estrada, under house arrest at his country villa east of Manila on charges of plundering about US$80 million from state coffers, has difficulty walking and rarely appears in court for his trial.