Enrile wants to stay at PNP hospital

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyers of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan that their client be allowed to be continuously detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In a three-page motion, Enrile's legal counsels also asked that the senator be allowed to take medical examinations and treatments outside the police hospital as the facility "may not have the necessary specialists or resources to fully address Enrile's elderly needs. And poor medical condition."

"Enrile additionally prays that a continuing authority be given to the hospital head or administrator to exercise his professional medical judgment or discretion to allow Enrile's immediate access of, or temporary visit to, another medical facility outside  of Camp Crame... and that after completion of the appropriate medical treatment or procedure, he be returned forthwith to the PNP General Hospital," the motion read.

Enrile's camp has a pending plea to the Sandiganbayan's 3rd Division to be allowed to post bail for the plunder case in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

Last Friday, Enrile surrendered to the authorities after the anti-graft court ordered his arrest as it found sufficient grounds to try the plunder and 15 counts of graft.

Unlike senators Ramon Revilla Jr.and Jinggoy Estrada, who are also facing plunder charges, the 90-year-old senator has been temporarily confined at the PNP General Hospital because of his age and delicate medical condition.

After surrendering at Camp Crame on Friday, Enrile was brought to the PNP General Hospital after his blood pressure shot up.

Revilla and Estrada have been detained at the PNP Custodial Center also in Camp Crame, which is 500 meters from the hospital where Enrile is confined.