Enrile cites Ninoy Aquino case in defending bail motion

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday defended his bail motion in the plunder case he is facing in connection with the alleged P10-billion “pork” barrel scam, saying former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was also granted bail due to his poor health.

Enrile mentioned the late father of President Benigno Aquino III’s case in his reply to the prosecution’s motion to oppose his bail motion.

Enrile cited the 1946 Supreme Court decision Dela Rama vs. People’s Court, which mentioned Ninoy Aquino, who was charged with treason during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos but was released on bail.

Ninoy Aquino was “released on bail on the ground that (he was) ill and (his) continued confinement in New Bilibid Prison would be injurious to (his) health or endanger (his) life,” the decision read.

“The court said that even if a capital offense is charged and the evidence of guilt is strong, the accused may still be admitted to bail in the discretion of the court if there are strong grounds to apprehend that his continued confinement will endanger his life or result in permanent impairment of health,” the motion read.

Enrile has asked the court that he be released on bail, citing his old age as a mitigating factor to lower the penalty of his offense and make it bailable.

In his motion, Enrile said he has the following illnesses: diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, chronic hypertension, extensive coronary artery calcification in the right coronary, age-related macular degeneration, elevated blood fasting sugar, mild anemia, among others.

Also, according to a medical certificate from the Makati Medical Center and attached to the bail motion, Enrile is taking 22 maintenance medicines for his illnesses: 21 tablets and an injection.

Enrile surrendered to police after the court ordered his arrest over his alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds.

Enrile was said to be the Martial Law administrator and among the top advisers of Marcos. Ninoy Aquino was arrested in 1972 shortly after the imposition of the martial rule.