Only Sandiganbayan can decide on Enrile hospital arrest—Palace

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday declined to comment on Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s request for hospital arrest, saying it is the court that will decide on the matter.

“It is the Sandiganbayan that determines the venue for detention,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Enrile, who is facing plunder charges for his involvement in the pork barrel scam, requested the anti-graft court on Monday to place him under hospital detention at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame because of his “advanced age and frail medical condition.”

Meanwhile, his former chief of staff and alleged lover Jessica “Gigi” Reyes also asked the court to detain her at the PNP Custodial Center, where Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada are being held, instead of the Quezon City Jail.

Coloma said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also determine which facilities they will offer and how the detainees will be divided into groups.

“Ang sinusunod lang natin ay ‘yung utos ng hukuman at iyong patakaran ng PNP Custodial Service,” he added.

(What we follow is the order of the court and rules of the PNP Custodial Service.)

Coloma did not elaborate on the criteria on how the PNP separates the detainees, but said the term used was “sectoring.”

“Meron silang iba’t ibang sektor—or classification of detainees at ‘yon ‘yung kanilang administrative procedure para diyan,” he added.

(They have different classification of detainees and that is under their administrative procedure.)

A number of people, including senators, have been arrested for the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Those facing graft charges were able to post bail while those who face non-bailable offenses like plunder will remain in detention during the duration of their trial.

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