Sen. Vicente Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III formally asked the Senate on Monday to pass a resolution, asking the proper authority to exercise its “judicial compassion” and allow Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to be detained at his residence in Makati City.
Enrile has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital on plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam. Two other senators — Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. were also charged with plunder and graft and detained inside the PNP compound.
Taking the floor on a matter of personal privilege, Sotto recognized the separation of the three great branches of our government and “that the administration of justice is better left uncommented on by the other two branches.”
“But I’m also aware that this separation is neither airtight nor flexible. They are dynamic, and the inputs of one to the other may likewise serve the principles of justice and public interest,” he said.
“My thesis is, under present circumstances, justice is no less diminished should Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile be detained at his residence in Makati. He is not a flight risk and neither is he intending to be one. He was rushed to the Makati Medical Center a few days ago, maybe because our government hospitals may not be properly equipped to handle his condition. His health concerns are many given the fact that he is 91 years old,” said the senator.
Enrile was rushed to the Makati Medical Center last Thursday due to pneumonia.
“I am not here to plead mercy. Senator Enrile has not been convicted. I simply want to rely on our operating principles that innocence is presumed. Furthermore, upon reaching the age of seventy, even convicted criminals are considered for pardon under present rules of the Department of Justice,” said Sotto.
“I stand therefore for compassion and that judgment be withheld till all the evidence of guilt are all in,” he further said.
The senator then moved that a resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate or at least some of its members, be passed and ask the proper authority to exercise its judicial compassion and allow Senator Enrile to be detained at his residence in Makati which is near the Makati Medical Center.”
Sotto said he would leave it to the Senate leadership to act on his motion.
Responding to the motion, Senate President Franklin Drilon referred the matter to the committee on rules being headed by Senate Majority Leader Alan Cayetano.
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