MANILA, Philippines – Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and members of his family have requested the Philippine National Police for some “privacy” after Enrile surrendered and was detained at a police hospital because of his health and medical condition.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said that Enrile’s family had asked for “privacy” for the 90-year-old former Senate president.
Because of this, Sindac said the PNP would not be releasing mug shots and all other updates to the public or the media.
Enrile’s lawyers also said they would not be giving any interviews to the media.
The elderly senator surrendered at Camp Crame in Quezon City late Friday afternoon after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest in connection to the plunder and graft charges linked to the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Enrile arrived at the PNP Multipurpose Hall at around 5:26 p.m. where he underwent booking procedures such as physical and medical examinations, fingerprinting and mug shots.
Chief Supt Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said Senator Enrile received the arrest warrant issued by anti-graft court at around 4 p.m. and decided to present himself at Camp Crame.
Initially, Sindac said they are still awaiting the court decision on where Enrile would be detained.
Enrile was later examined to have a blood pressure of 200 over 90 and pulse rate of 84. He was then rushed by an ambulance to the air-conditioned hospital at Camp Crame before 7 p.m. Friday, July 4.
Sindac said Enrile’s “temporary hospital confinement was recommended” because of “his medical condition.” He said doctors detected that Enrile’s heart had “murmur” or abnormal sound.
Before 7 a.m. Saturday, the authorities took Enrile from the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame to the Asian Eye Institute in Makati City for an eye checkup.
Enrile is reportedly suffering from age-related macular degeneration in the right eye. He needs regular treatment to prevent loss of vision in that eye.
In a brief television interview, Enrile thanked the police for the courteous treatment they are giving him.
“I thank the police for treating me very kindly,” he said.
Enrile is accused of funneling P172.83 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations to alleged fake non-government organizations put up by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles for allegedly non-existent or ghost projects.
He was accompanied by his son, Jack, and daughter, Katrina, when he surrendered to the PNP on Friday.
The Sandiganbayan also ordered the arrest of Enrile’s former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, who surendered to the anti-graft court before 5 p.m.
Two of Enrile’s co-accused, fellow Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, have been earlier detained at the PNP Custodial Center.
Last month, the 90-year old senator filed an urgent omnibus motion asking the anti-graft court to junk charges against him and to allow him to post bail, arguing that there was no direct evidence against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.
The Sandiganbayan ordered Enrile’s arrest hours after it denied his motion for bail.