Sen Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Almost two weeks after celebrating his 91st birthday on Valentine’s Day under hospital arrest, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was rushed to Makati Medical Center stricken with pneumonia.
The senator has been suffering from a fever since Tuesday and even coughing blood, which prompted his personal doctors and physicians at Philippine National Police General Hospital to move him urgently to the private hospital at 3 a.m. on Thursday with police escorts.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the transfer was sanctioned by the Sandiganbayan, which had been informed of the senator’s condition.
“He has been suffering from high fever, 39 degrees Celsius, since Tuesday. We wish him good health and a speedy recovery,” Roxas said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.
“His coughing of blood is an indication that he needs further management which the (PNP) hospital is not equipped to handle. If he recovers and if the court orders that he be brought back here, we are willing to accept him,” Chief Insp. Raymond Santos said.
Enrile needs further laboratory tests and a bigger facility to address his medical condition, said Santos, the PNP medical spokesperson.
The senator has been under hospital arrest since July 2014 on graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. He was placed under hospital arrest due to his advanced age and uncontrolled hypertension.
Enrile celebrated his 91st birthday at the PNP hospital, allegedly with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, who are likewise detained at Camp Crame in connection with the pork barrel racket.
Since Enrile’s immune system has weakened, it is possible that he was exposed to someone who was ill during the small gathering.
“Oh my God, I just saw him on his birthday,’’ Vice President Jejomar Binay said when told by reporters about Enrile’s condition. He said he would pray for Enrile’s swift recovery. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño
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Senator Enrile has pneumonia; rushed to Makati Medical Center