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Friday, March 29, 2024

Enrile opposes house arrest bid

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SENATOR Juan Ponce Enrile, on trial for plunder, does not want to be held under house arrest and would rather go back to the PNP General Hospital where he has been detained, his son said Thursday.

Interviewed over the ANC news channel, former Cagayan congressman Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., said he discussed proposals for house arrest but his father did not like the idea.

Enrile not in favor of house arrest

“He wants to go back and go through the process, face his accusers, face the charges before him, answer them before the Filipino public and clear his name. That’s what he wants,” said the younger

Enrile. “He wants no doubt about his innocence and he doesn’t want the public to doubt the strength of his case.”

The former congressman said his father was in a “fighting mood” and in good spirits despite being taken to the Makati Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

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“He wants to go back. At least there [in the PNP General Hospital], he can have sunlight. There are windows in his room where the sun can shine through. In Makati Med, it is all four walls,” the former congressman said.

While his father may be 91, he is still “very, very sharp,” the younger Enrile said.

“This is the trial of his life and he has a few years to clear his name,” he added.

Enrile said his father’s condition was steadily improving and he might be able to leave the hospital this week.

The younger Enrile said his father was grateful to friends and supporters who were pushing for his house arrest.

Senator Vicente Sotto III on Monday moved for the passage of a resolution that would place Enrile under house arrest upon his discharge from the Makati Medical Center, saying justice would not be diminished by such a move.

Enrile’s nemesis, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago objected, however, saying this would violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

In a media briefing, Santiago said although people by nature are unequal, the law must treat them equally, otherwise the action is unconstitutional.

She cited the case of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, who has been detained at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center since 2011.

“Why was she given hospital arrest while Enrile will be given house arrest? That’s already a violation of the equal protection clause,” Santiago said.

She added that his age should not be taken into consideration, since many people his age have died in jail waiting for their appeals to be decided.

“If we want persons of that age to stay out of jail, let’s have a law. That’s the procedure. Don’t ask for an exemption for one person in a democracy. You ask for a law that will make it possible to attain certain conditions for everybody who falls under the requirements of the law. That is due process of law,” she said.

She also dismissed health concerns.

“If you cough, you will be placed under house arrest? If that’s the case, one should just cough and cough,” she said.

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