PNP hospital awaits JPE

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Photo courtesy of Enrile’s Facebook page.

MANILA — After Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was earlier reported to have preferred to be on a hospital arrest, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already prepared the hospital room for the senator.

Two rooms are ready as detention rooms at the PNP General Hospital at Camp Crame, Quezon City for the senator, who was earlier charged with plunder.

A room with no air-conditioning unit, dedicated for public order violators is measuring bout three square meters, with a single bed, private toilet and window grills.

The other room is air-conditioned, slightly larger  with a sliding window and toilet and shower and is usually reserved for ailing police officials.

Chief Superintendent Alejandro Advincula, PNP Health Service director, said the two rooms are ready once the warrants for the arrest of Enrile is issued by the Sandiganbayan’s 3rd Division.

Meanwhile, several house leaders support the request of some supporters to place the ailing senator who suffers from poor hearing, high blood pressure and vertigo, under house arrest.

“The proposal for house or hospital arrest is worth considering, given the age of former Senate president Enrile. But at the end of the day it is the court that will decide,” Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, said.

“Prisoners 70 years old and above are already given priority for parole in this country. What more someone who is 90?” Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambuting said.

With reports from Philippine Star