Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7hcWjSEvks4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>MANILA — Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Wednesday for a scheduled X-ray, but his visit also provided much-needed medical attention for the “severe pain” in his left knee, according to his camp.</p><p>Clad in a yellow detainee uniform, Estrada arrived at the hospital with his thick beard and mustache. He showed pain in his facial expression and had difficulty walking.</p><p>His orthopedic doctor, Dr. Jose Fernando Syquia, said Estrada’s knee twisted when he stood from a seated position inside the Quezon City Jail, causing a meniscal tear.</p><p>“Napunit niya ‘yong tinawag na meniscus — that is a structure sa tuhod. Napunit niya ‘yon while he was attempting to stand. So, that should be very painful,” Syquia told reporters.</p><p>The doctor said the type of tear would usually require surgery, but the decision would depend on the patient.</p><p>“We saw that it was a complete tear,” he added. “It’s a pretty bad tear kasi kapag napunit ‘yong meniscus at that point, it’s as if you have no meniscus at all.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/estrada-camp-says-his-knee-snapped-before-hospital-visit-1445">Estrada’s knee ‘snaps’ inside QC jail, rushed to hospital</a></div><p>An X-ray and MRI were conducted on the knee, and it was also injected with medication to ease the pain. An immobilizer was also placed to allow the knee to rest.</p><p>Estrada was also advised to lose weight, as &quot;body weight is a risk factor for arthritis,&quot; according to Syquia.</p><p>Asked if Estrada needed to stay in the hospital, Syquia explained that it would depend on the lawmaker’s pain tolerance.</p><p>“If the pain cannot be controlled adequately with the medications that we gave, then we will refer him to a pain specialist. Then, he might have to be admitted for the pain medications,” he said.</p><p>Estrada, who is facing graft and non-bailable plunder charges over an alleged multi-billion peso flood control kickback scheme, was released from the hospital at about 4 p.m., and was escorted back to the jail.</p><div> </div><div><strong>DID NOT SLIP IN THE RESTROOM</strong></div><p>The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), meanwhile, denied that Estrada slipped in the jail’s restroom.</p><p>BJMP spokesperson Jail Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said Estrada was walking out of his jail cell when they heard a snap from his knee.</p><p>The 63-year-old embattled lawmaker has been suffering from joint effusion in his knee joints and intermittent pain in both knees. He was previously diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that affects his mobility, according to the anti-graft court.</p><p>“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 said.</p><p>“His condition has been relayed by his wife to his orthopedic doctor, Dr. Jose Fernando Syquia, who has recommended that accused Estrada undergo an X-ray procedure of both knees with four specific views x x x - to determine whether his illness has worsened.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/4/estrada-urges-sandiganbayan-to-reconsider-bid-to-fix-bail-1019">Estrada urges Sandiganbayan to reconsider bid to fix bail</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mppv8RBqOAA?si=6Bi7L4LnAUPa3yY1" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Wednesday for a scheduled X-ray, but his visit also provided much-needed medical attention for the “severe pain” in his left knee, according to his camp.</p>

Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Wednesday for a scheduled X-ray, but his visit also provided much-needed medical attention for the “severe pain” in his left knee, according to his camp.

‘Very painful’: Doctor says Estrada may need surgery over meniscal tear

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‘Very painful’: Doctor says Estrada may need surgery over meniscal tear

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 05:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Jinggoy Estrada

Sandiganbayan

Quezon City Jail

Cardinal Santos Medical Center

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