Enrile may go to any hospital at his expense, says Sandigan

LANDMARK CASE. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile (center) gets his day in court during his arraignment at the Sandiganbayan on July 11, 2014. Presiding over the hearing are Sandiganbayan Third Division justices (from left) Associate Justice Samuel Martires, Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Alex Quiroz. RAFFY LERMA

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile may seek treatment in any hospital outside Camp Crame as long as he pays for his medical expenses, the Sandiganbayan said on Saturday.

Dennis Pulma, clerk of court of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, said the court had authorized officials of Philippine National Police General Hospital to take Enrile to the Asian Eye Institute in Makati City, where he had been receiving treatment for an eye ailment before he was arrested on July 4 on plunder and graft charges over the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Pulma said police doctors must certify that Enrile’s “medical requirement is considered emergency or if there’s a necessity” for him to receive treatment outside the police hospital.

“They also have to show that the medical requirement he needs is not available at [PNP General Hospital],” Pulma said in a telephone interview.

“They can bring out Enrile from Camp Crame but [on] the condition that the expenses in relation to his [treatment] must be paid by him,” he added.

Pulma said PNP officials should also furnish the court a report on Enrile’s medical checkup outside the PNP hospital.

The 90-year-old Senate minority leader has been diagnosed with macular degeneration, an eye condition that may lead to blindness.

Hospital arrest

Pulma said the petition filed by Enrile’s lawyers pertaining to his request to be placed in hospital arrest at PNP General Hospital had been held in abeyance.

In a minute resolution issued on July 9, the Sandiganbayan Third Division directed the medical director of Philippine General Hospital to check Enrile’s physical condition.

Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP spokesperson, has said that bringing Enrile and other high-profile detainees arrested over the pork barrel scam to court hearings is draining the resources of the police force.

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