Enrile gets to stay at police hospital for now

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan is holding in abeyance the motion of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to be placed under hospital arrest, paving the way for his continued stay at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital in Quezon City.

The court’s 3rd division on Wednesday, July 9, instead ordered the director of the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Dr Jose Gonzales, to conduct a medical exam on the senator.

The PGH medical report has to be submitted to the court 3 days from notice. 

While at the PNP General Hospital, the court said, Enrile will be allowed to make temporary visits to other medical facilities, provided that the off-site treatment is an emergency and is necessary, and that the treatment cannot be provided inside PNP General Hospital. Expenses for off-site treatment on account of the senator.

Watch this report below.

Poor health

The court heard on Tuesday oral arguments on his motion. 

Enrile’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza said his client’s life is a shared responsibility of the court that ordered his arrest and the arresting authorities.

He said the 90-year-old senator is in frail condition and may suffer from attacks that are “immediately fatal.”

The prosecution opposed Enrile’s motion, saying past events have shown his physical ability to still fulfill his functions as legislator.

Prosecutor Annielyn Cabelis even added that Enrile had undergone stem cell therapy, which had given him “vitality and zest” in life.

Enrile cited the same health concerns in a motion for bail filed earlier. Attached to his motion were medical certificates issued by his doctors.

A May 8 certification by Dr Clementa Gatmaitan Jr said Enrile is under the care of Dr Claver Ramos of the Makati Medical Center. He had been diagnosed with chronic hypertension, elevated fasting blood sugar, and mild anemia, among others. 

In a separate medical certificate, Dr Ramos said Enrile is on at least 22 different medications for his various health complications.

Another medical certificate signed by Dr Amadeo Veloso Jr of the Asian Eye Institute attests that Enrile has “age-related macular degeneration” in both eyes.

“He needs to undergo regular ophthalmologic check-up, monitoring and treatment for the sight threatening condition. Since 2008, he has been receiving monthly intravitreal injections to maintain and preserve his vision,” the certificate read. – Rappler.com

(Editors’ Note: In an earlier version of this story, we said that Senator Enrile’s motion for a hospital arrest had been granted. This was based on information gathered by editors from court sources that a resolution to this effect had been issued. We regret the error.)