Enrile house arrest pressed

MANILA, Philippines — Two   opposition senators  on Thursday  pressed for the  house arrest of  detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was rushed to Makati Medical Center due to pneumonia.

“For humanitarian considerations,  JPE (Enrile’s initials) should  be allowed house arrest. At that advance age and condition, he needs proper care at home,”  Senator  Joseph  Victor “JV”  Ejercito said in a text message to reporters.

Acting Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto  III,  in a separate text message, said he would  also study the  possibility of filing a motion  on the floor on Monday “ to ask that  JPE be given house arrest.”

But Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero  said it would be difficult for the Senate to make a stand on the issue lest it be accused of trying to influence the court.

Instead of a house arrest, detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada preferred that Enrile  should be granted  bail by the court.

Both Enrile and Estrada, along with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla  Jr., were charged with plunder, a non-bailable offense, in connection with the “pork barrel” scam. Estrada and Revilla have been detained at the  facility of the Philippine National Police while Enrile has been in a hospital arrest, also inside the PNP  compound.

“He should be granted bail for humanitarian reason not only house arrest,” Estrada said in a statement.

But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said a hospital arrest is still the “best place” for the detained senator.

“I believe that a hospital is still the best place to take care of his fragile health,” Trillanes said in another text message.