JPE allowed to leave Crame for eye checkup

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was allowed to temporarily leave Camp Crame to undergo an eye checkup at a private hospital in Makati City yesterday morning.

Enrile, escorted by a police convoy, left the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital on an ambulance at around 7 a.m.

PNP officials said the 90-year-old senator was treated for macular degeneration, a condition wherein a person’s eyes weaken due to old age, at the Asian Eye Institute at Rockwell Center.

Enrile was not in handcuffs when he was brought back to the PNP hospital at past 7:40 a.m.

He was given an intravitreal aflibercept injection on his right eye, said Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, spokesman for the PNP.

Sindac said Enrile’s visit to the eye clinic was earlier requested by his family.

“There was a prior request for it,” he said.

Sindac said the senator’s family also requested the PNP not to make public the result of his medical checkup.

The PNP hospital has not issued any medical bulletin since Enrile’s stay there Friday night.

Enrile told reporters that his right eye was treated for macular degeneration, which could lead to blindness if not given proper medical attention.

He thanked the PNP for treating him kindly during the first night of his stay at the PNP hospital after he turned himself in to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“This (treatment) is done whenever there is a need for it. Otherwise I will go blind. I am thanking the police for treating me kindly,” he said.

No relative accompanied the senator during his visit to the Makati eye clinic.

Enrile and his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes surrendered to authorities one after the other Friday after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants for their arrest for plunder in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Sindac said Enrile is still not considered a detainee as the anti-graft court has yet to release its commitment order on where he would be detained.

The senator was taken to the PNP Hospital after his blood pressure shot up to 200/90 during his booking procedure.

A dzBB report quoted Enrile’s staff as saying that his blood pressure slightly improved yesterday.

Special consideration OK with Palace

Malacañang will not oppose any special consideration to be given to Enrile, citing his age and health condition, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigal Valte said yesterday.

Valte reiterated President Aquino’s stand that Enrile should be accorded more leniency for humanitarian reasons.

Aquino had earlier approved of house or hospital arrest for the senator.

“Better treatment is not the proper phrase… but his age and health condition are only being considered,” Valte told radio dzRB.

For his part, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said Enrile and the other senators charged with plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam should not be placed in ordinary detention facilities for security reasons.

In a radio interview, Osmeña said it is highly possible that the senators and their co-accused could come into contact with people who have a grudge against them and this could pose a threat on their safety.

“They have not been found guilty. They should be secured. They have to be separated because they have created enemies in the past and we have to make sure nothing happens to them,” he said.

Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada are detained at the PNP Custodial Center.

Osmeña believes that Enrile should be placed under hospital arrest while awaiting the resolution of his case.

“This is just the trial stage so we have to help him take care of his health,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he has no problem with Enrile being placed under hospital arrest.

“I am OK with hospital arrest if he needs it, if his medical condition calls for it. But if his condition does not require it, then he should be treated just like anyone else. But treat him humanely,” he said.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for whistle-blowers in the pork barrel scam said Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos should go on leave or be suspended.

Relampagos is among the accused in the scam allegedly orchestrated by Janet Lim-Napoles.

He allegedly signed the special allotment release orders (SAROs) that paved the way for the release of public funds that went to ghost projects of several lawmakers.

“He is still with DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and has access to the original documents, which are evidence in the plunder cases,” said lawyer Stephen Cascolan. – With Aurea Calica, Marvin Sy, Aie Balagtas See