Perjury rap slapped vs Calayan over deformed penis case

MANILA, Philippines - A former client of celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr Manny Calayan has filed his third criminal complaint against the doctor whom he initially accused of bungling his penile enlargement operation. Dioscoro Peligro, legal counsel of Filipino-American businessman Louem Martinez, said his client slapped Calayan with a perjury complaint for allegedly lying about the proper application of a chemical used in the said reconstructive operation. The complaint was filed before Second Assistant Prosecutor Edgardo Hirang of the Makati Prosecutors Office. Peligro said they have proof that Calayan’s claim that Aquagel Lubricating Gel and Aquamid Subdermal Filler are registered and licensed by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) was untrue. "He (Calayan) stated in his counter-affidavit that Aquamid is BFAD-registered and is safe for use in penile enhancement operations. He made this statement under oath, so he is liable for perjury," Peligro said in preliminary investigation of their third criminal complaint against the prominent cosmetic surgeon. Peligro pointed out that he has secured a certification from BFAD that neither Aquagel nor Aquamid is allowed for importation and use in the Philippines. He added that based on the certification of BFAD Director Leticia-Barbara Gutierrez, the Calayan Surgicentre Corp., which the surgeon owns and operates, was not a licensed importer of both Aquagel and Aquamid. "The approved use of Aquamid Subdermal Filler is for the reconstruction of facial defects caused by congenital, traumatic, or ageing alterations. The registration of the same, however, has expired and not renewed as of this writing, thus, should not be imported and sold," the BFAD certification stated. Martinez is seeking P26-million from the Calayans for allegedly botching his penile enlargement operation, for which he claimed to have paid over P150,000. The complainant said his penis became permanently disfigured as a result of the operation. In his counter-affidavit to Martinez' charges of reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries, estafa, and obstruction of justice, Calayan admitted having used Aquagel in the penile enlargement operation he conducted on the complainant. He later clarified that what he really meant was Aquamid." To prove his point, Calayan presented the affidavits of two doctors attesting the safety of the use of Aquamid as dermal filler in cosmetic procedures. Peligro said Calayan deliberately renamed the banned Aquagel to Aquamid in order to escape liability. Calayan's lawyer, Reggie Ukol, could not be reached for comment. They are set to file their counter-affidavit before Prosecutor Hirang on July 29. - GMANews.TV