MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is closely monitoring the health condition of Senator Juan Ponce at its hospital in Camp Crame, and may not allow him to face the court on Friday, July 11, if he won’t be well enough.

The 90-year-old senator is scheduled for arraignment Friday morning before the 5th division of the Sandiganbayan for charges of plunder and graft. He is accused of earning millions of pesos in kickbacks from ensuring that his office’s development funds went to bogus organizations.

If Enrile’s blood pressure shoots up, however, it’s a no-go for the senator, said Chief Superintendent Alejandro Advincula Jr, head of the PNP Health Services.

“Definitely hindi siya papayagan. Kasi unang-una, isipin nalang natin ‘yung biyahe…tapos ‘yung stress kung nakaharap na siya sa korte,” Advincula said on Thursday, July 10.

(He definitely won’t be allowed to leave. Think about the stress during the trip and the stress when he faces the court.)

Enrile has a case of “unstable hypertension,” Advincula told reporters. While Enrile is not sick, there are times when he feels fatigued or when his blood pressure shoots up – as high as 200/90. Stress, said PNP doctors, could be causing his erratic blood pressure.

His chronic hypertension can also lead to a stroke if left unchecked.

Nanogenarian problems

Enrile surrendered to the PNP on Friday, July 4, after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest. He was admitted to the PNP General Hospital the same day due to his medical condition.

Enrile’s camp on Thursday also filed a motion seeking to move his scheduled arraignment, citing his medical issues. The court is scheduled to hear the motion before the arraignment.

Advincula noted Enrile didn’t seem “depressed” or “down” despite the charges he is facing, and is not complaining of any sickness. He does, however, take over 20 maintenance medicines daily.

Enrile has diabetes, coronary artery disease and high cholesterol.

Enrile has also asked the Sandiganbayan to grant him hospital arrest, which was held in abeyance by the court. Doctors from the Philippine General Hospital visited him Thursday to administer tests that will be the basis of their recommendation to the court.

Also scheduled to be arraigned on Friday is Enrile’s former chief of staff Gigi Reyes. Reyes has medical issues of her own and is currently confined at a Taguig city hospital after suffering from a panic attack. – Rappler.com