Senator JV Ejercito. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senator JV Ejercito on Wednesday said authorities should be considerate and allow Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to use his favorite gadget, an iPad, inside jail so he can “exercise his brain.”
“I hope they let him (Enrile) bring his iPad even without Wi-Fi, so at least he could play Bejeweled. Okay na siguro ‘yon,” Ejercito said in a press briefing after his 45-minute visit at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital.
In several Senate hearings, Enrile has been seen playing Bejeweled, a tile-matching puzzle game application on iPad.
“Para sana ma-exercise ‘yung isip niya. He does not want to stay idle,” he said.
The PNP had maintained that even the smallest appliance, detainees should seek first the approval of the court before the police could allow this inside their room.
Ejercito paid a visit to Enrile along with the 90-year-old senator’s son and Cagayan congressman Jack Enrile and Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio.
Asked what the disposition of the senator was, Ejercito said Enrile looked cheerful, calm and relaxed.
“He was constantly thanking everyone, whether a doctor or a PNP official who would make random inspection, for their kind treatment,” he said.
Ejercito also recalled the parting of Enrile and his son that “touched him and made him sad.”
When Jack bid his father goodbye, he said Enrile was teary-eyed.
“He was trying to hide it pero namumula ang mata niya,” he said.
The senator said Jack would be leaving on Monday night for United States and Europe for one month and a half.
“It was touching and sad… Kapag makikita mong maiiwan na ang ama mo, masakit ‘yon,” he said, recalling the similar scene he had with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who was jailed for plunder in 2001.
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