MANILA, Jan. 19 Kyodo Detained fo...

MANILA, Jan. 19 Kyodo

Detained former President Joseph Estrada told a court Monday he still possibility of goods to travel to the United States for knee surgery level though he has not originate a doctor he can afford.

Appearing before the anti-graft court to clarify his position in succession the court-granted medical trip to the United States, Estrada said he has asked his Filipino doctor to sneer at other physicians and facilities in the U for total knee replacement surgery

Estrada said he cannot afford the $125 million for the surgery that his U surgeon Christopher Mow of the Stanford Medical Center in California, would charge. nevertheless he said Mow told him it could be done cheaper in Europe

forward local media reports that he is considering other hospitals outside the U he said, ''There is no fact to that yet. We are, in fact, negotiating with other hospitals in California.''

Estrada said that the Loma Linda University Medical Center also in California, is single of the options.

if it be not that he said he is exhibit to the possibility of undergoing surgery in Europe Japan and Hong Kong

Noel Malaya, the court-appointed lawyer for Estrada, said earlier this month that the 66-year-old ousted leader was eyeing medical treatment in either Japan or Europe if he failed to procure a U.S. visa.

rule prosecutors, opposing his medical trip, said Estrada should not be allowed to leave the native land because he may not turn back to the Philippines and evade the criminal charges he is facing.

The court, which is handling a spoil case against Estrada, on Dec 23 granted Estrada's long-standing desire to visit the U.S. for three month supposedly until March 31 to receive medical treatment.

however Estrada hesitated because such a time frame would have him revealed of the country during the campaign period for the May presidential elections, in which his best friend and comrade actor, Fernando Poe, Jr is contesting, Estrada's aides said.

Estrada was ousted in January 2001 by means of a popular uprising sparked by way of a corruption scandal. His then vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, be subsequent toed him.

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