House arrest eyed for Enrile

MANILA, Philippines–Lawmakers belonging to the minority bloc will ask their colleagues in the House of Representatives to support a call to the Sandiganbayan to place Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile under house arrest on humanitarian grounds.

On Monday, Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora and Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III will file a resolution seeking the support of the chamber “to express its collective sense by pleading for mercy and compassion” on behalf of the 91-year-old senator.

“Senator Enrile’s advanced age and current state of health require certain medical procedures and facilities to ensure his continued well-being,” a draft of the resolution read in part.

Enrile has been under detention at the Philippine National Police General Hospital since July last year. He was rushed early on Thursday to the Makati Medical Center due to pneumonia.

He had been suffering from fever since Tuesday, at times coughing blood, which prompted his physicians to move him to the private Makati hospital.

Enrile is facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. He was placed under hospital arrest due to his advanced age and uncontrolled hypertension.