MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday supported proposals to put Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo under house arrest.
“Government prosecutors are opposing house arrest for… Enrile. This is cold and callous. It opens the government to charges that it lacks compassion for the sick and elderly,” he said.
Binay said this also reinforces the “widely held view” of the administration’s selective justice and would invite further criticisms that political opponents are treated harshly.
Binay issued the statement after the 91-year-old Enrile was rushed to the Makati Medical Center on Thursday due to pneumonia.
“He needs medical attention for several ailments and medical conditions that go with his advanced age,” Binay said.
“His ongoing bout with pneumonia shows the fragility of his physical state. House arrest for him would be the compassionate thing to do,” he added.
Binay and Enrile, along with former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, were the leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance that challenged the administration bloc during the 2013 elections.
Enrile has since been charged with plunder over corruption allegations involving the use of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.
He is under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Malacañang has no position so far on the house arrest for Enrile being proposed by Binay and several lawmakers.
“This is quite a recent development and so far...The President has not been able to discuss with us what our particular position will be,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
President Aquino earlier openly said it was all right with him if Enrile would get humane treatment for his old age and ailments. This was when the senator’s hospital arrest was still being discussed.
But Valte said the courts would eventually decide if Enrile would be placed under house arrest.
Binay also supported calls to grant house arrest to Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. – With Aurea Calica