Palace has no objection to Enrile’s extended hospital detention

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile (Facebook photo)

MANILA — Malacañang said on Saturday it does not object to the Sandiganbayan’s decision to extend the hospital detention of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as he faces plunder charges over the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

“Thus far, wala naman pong objection. As in the pork scam cases, we’ve always abided by the decisions of the handling court, especially when it comes to detention,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview in dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The Sandiganbayan on Friday granted Enrile’s petition to prolong his stay in a police hospital while his petition for bail is being heard.

Valte said she believes that President Benigno S. Aquino III understands the decision, considering the senator’s advanced age and failing health.

Doctors from the Philippine General Hospital have recommended to the Sandidanbayan that Enrile, 90, be detained in a hospital as he could suffer a stroke or a heart attack.

The court said that placing him in a regular jail “would definitely endanger his life”.