Faeldon finally receives
therapy for frozen shoulder

MARINE commandant Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino beat a potential court case by allowing Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, one of the leaders of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, to leave his detention cell yesterday to undergo a long overdue therapy in a hospital for a back injury.

Dolorfino said Faeldon was scheduled to be brought to the Manila Naval Hospital in Fort Bonifacio anytime yesterday to undergo physiotherapy. He had been diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis which he supposedly incurred during a workout.

Adhesive capsulitis, however, is not a back but a shoulder injury. It is also known as frozen shoulder and involves inflammation in the head of the arm bone and decreased range of motion in the shoulder. Information from the internet said the injury is often related to a minor injury or some form of stress, and is more common among middle-aged women and those with a history of thyroid disease or diabetes.

Its treatment consists of rest, taking pain medications, therapy, or cortisone injection to decrease inflammation and stimulate circulation in the shoulder joint.

Last Monday, Faeldon’s lawyer Trixie Angeles threatened to bring up before the Makati regional trial court today the delay in the treatment of her client. Faeldon is being tried in the civilian court on a coup charge, along with 30 other soldiers.

Angeles said Faeldon was diagnosed with the ailment last Sept. 19 and doctors from the Manila Naval Hospital recommended therapy from Sept. 24 to 29 at the hospital, which is two blocks from the Marine brig. On Sept. 24, when Faeldon was about to leave for his therapy, Angeles said he was told by an emissary of then camp commander, Lt. Col. Luciardo Obena, that he cannot leave without Dolorfino’s approval. Dolorfino had just assumed as Marine commandant then.

Angeles said Obena "would not see or speak" with Faeldon when the latter sought clarification from about the order, and also failed to forward Faeldon’s written request to Dolorfino to be allowed to go to the hospital until Oct. 10 and "only after the service of a final demand letter on him."

On Oct. 23, when Faeldon was again set to go out for therapy, having been told verbally the week before that he could, he was again stopped by the new camp commander, Lt. Col. Iluminado Lumacad, who told him Dolorfino had not yet given him permission to go.

"It is the height of cruelty to have allowed Capt. Faeldon to seek diagnosis, and then be prevented from being treated. It is also the height of arrogance to presume that medical treatment is subject to the discretion of any man, commander or commandant or even chief of staff. "While we will concede that such treatment would be subject to administrative concerns by the custodians, a denial of treatment, in the face of possible permanent damage violates the requisites of humane treatment for any and all detainees," Angeles said.

She said they plan to file an urgent motion for medical treatment before the Makati court today "due to debilitating nature (of the ailment) and possibility of long term damage."

"If Capt. Faeldon doesn’t go out to the hospital today, I’ll be in court tomorrow asking for Dolorfino’s head on a plate. One month to give permission to get treatment is a criminal negligence," she warned.