Manila: An anti-graft court allowed the petition of Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile for hospital arrest while his case for the alleged misuse of priority development funds is being heard, a spokesman said.
“The motion of Juan Ponce Enrile for detention at the Philippine Nation Police (PNP) General Hospital inside Camp Crame, the police headquarters in suburban Quezon City, was granted in a 16-page resolution that was released by the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan [an anti-graft court] on Friday,” said clerk of court Dennis Palma.
His medical condition was the primary reason why his request for hospital arrest was granted, explained Palma, adding that Enrile will remain under hospital arrest “until he is determined by the doctors to be physically fit for detention at the proper Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility or until further orders from the court”.
Enrile, 90, was also allowed to seek medical treatment in other hospitals if necessary, said the decision that was penned by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, with Associate Justices Samuel Martires and Alex Quiroz.
Enrile can be brought to another hospital in case of emergency or if a required medical procedure for him is not available at the police hospital, said the court, adding that the arrested senator must shoulder all the medical expenses when he seeks treatment in other medical facilities.
In filing the motion for hospital arrest, Enrile’s lawyers cited his age, elevated blood pressure, and other ailments that require him to take 19 medicines every day.
Enrile was accused of keeping a total of P183 million (Dh15.25 million) from rebates of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) that he approved for release to non-existing projects that were supposed to be implemented by non–functioning non-government organisations that businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles established for the alleged scam.
Senator Ramon Revilla Jr and Jinggoy Estrada are the two other opposition lawmakers detained at the police custodial centre (inside Camp Crame) for alleged misuse of their respective development funds. Enrile also has a pending motion for bail.
