Enrile’s health improves, rejects house arrest calls

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Enrile’s health improves, rejects house arrest calls
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is getting better and may be discharged from the Makati Medical Center in a week, says his son, former Cagayan representative Jack Enrile

MANILA, Philippines – Detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is likely to be discharged from the Makati Medical Center in a week, as his condition has improved following his confinement for pneumonia, his son said on Thursday, March 5.

Former Cagayan representative Jack Enrile also said in an interview on ANC, that the senator is not keen on calls for his house arrest as he would rather remain at his court-designated detention facility in Camp Crame.

“His condition is improving. Yesterday, there was a conference among his doctors. [They] said that his infection has been reduced to about 50% of what it originally was and it looks like he could be discharged within a week’s time,” Enrile said.

The 91-year-old senator was transferred to the Makati hospital from the Philippine National Police General Hospital for pneumonia on February 26, which is allowed under a standing resolution of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

Enrile said that while his father still showed some “weakness” when they met on Wednesday, he was in “good spirits.” 

“He may be advanced in age, [but] he’s still very very sharp. Yesterday, he showed me that he can stand on his own, he was bending his knee….He was putting on a very brave face for me yesterday,” Enrile said.

No house arrest

When asked, Enrile said the senator would rather remain in Camp Crame and not placed under house arrest, which is being pushed by his allies in Congress as well as Vice President Jejomar Binay.

We had a conversation yesterday about his house arrest and he himself told me that he does not want it. He wants to go through the process, face his accusers, face the charges that are before him, answer them before the Filipino public, and clear his name,” Enrile said.

He added, “We thank the friends and the supporters of my father for thinking and wanting the best for him but my father is a lawyer and he is in contact with his legal team….He said he wants that there would be no doubt about his innocence. He does not want the Filipino public to doubt the strength of his case.”

Enrile reiterated that his father wants to be strong enough to go to court, if necessary, to respond to the charges against him. (READ: Enrile wants to get better to face charges in court – son)

“He really is in a fighting mood clear and he really wants to clear his name not only for himself but for his family as well. His generation, to them their name is paramount. He wants a good name,  to leave a legacy, and he wants every opportunity that he can get to do this,” Enrile said. 

Enrile is facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly allowing his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to fund ghost projects of bogus non-governmental organizations controlled by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

The senator allegedly pocketed P172 million (almost $4 million) in kickbacks from the PDAF scam. – Rappler.com

 

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