Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Senator Juan Ponce Enrile supposedly got his pneumonia, deemed life-threatening by his physicians, at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital where he is under detention for plunder over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
In a report on Enrile’s transfer to Makati Medical Center on Thursday filed before the Sandiganbayan, his lawyers said Enrile acquired the pneumonia from one of the patients in the hospital.
“While Enrile continued to be detained at the PNP General Hospital, the hospital accepted several other patients, some having infectious diseases with at least one particular patient having pneumonia,” according to the report a copy of which was sent to Senate reporters.
“Enrile while detained at the PNP General Hospital contracted an additional illness from within the hospital itself. Thus, Enrile did not get any better while detained at the PNP General Hospital. This is very likely considering his weak immune system on account of his age and other known ailments,” the report said.
Enrile, who turned 91 years old on Valentine’s Day, coughed up blood and had a high fever before he was rushed to the Makati Medical Center, the report said.
Enrile also had spots in his lungs, an indication that he has pneumonia, the report added.
His physicians said Enrile is not responding to the medications.
His lawyers said Enrile was rushed to the hospital for intensive care on Feb. 26 considering that pneumonia is life-threatening to the elderly.
“Among the considerations was the fact that ‘pneumonia’ is life-threatening, especially in the elderly and chronically ill, where it remains to be the leading cause of death,” the report said.
Enrile is also said to be suffering from irregular heartbeat, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and age-related macular degeneration.
His lawyers said because of multiple illnesses, Enrile needed specialized machines like a mechanical ventilator and coronary care unit, which the PNP hospital are not equipped with.
A pulmonologist is also not readily available in the PNP hospital, the report said.
The report said Enrile needed to undergo sputum culture and gram stain and arterial blood gas test.
Physicians from the PNP hospital and Makati Medical Center are coordinating for Enrile’s swift recovery, the report said.
Enrile is under antibiotic therapy and is in isolation at the Makati hospital, it added.
According to the clinical abstract prepared by the PNP hospital and attached to the report, Enrile while he was detained in the hospital developed cough of whitish and yellowish phlegm and had flushed skin.
“On physical examination, patient is conscious, coherent, not in distress,” the abstract said.
According to the abstract, Enrile needs to be closely monitored “as age of the patient is a significant risk factor for developing complications and deterioration of his physical condition, not to mention other co-morbidities such as hypertension and diabetes.”
It was Enrile’s request to be detained at the PNP General Hospital with access to other hospitals. The court granted Enrile’s request until he is fit to be detained at the proper detention place in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility.
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