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Enrile bares secret to staying strong at 93


There is no secret to a long and healthy life aside from building a habit of moderation, said the 93-year-old former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday.

"I'm still standing anyway. I have no secret. I eat anything. I’m very moderate in my habits," Enrile told reporters.

Enrile said he only has problems in his hearing and eyesight, saying he uses a magnifying glass when reading books.

"My only problem is my hearing and my eyesight. I can see all of you but I have to use a magnifying glass to read. But I'm still reading books, studying the country, studying the world, studying the planet," he said.

Enrile, however, admitted he suffers from one illness -- aging.

"There is one sickness that all of us must go through. And that is aging. And whatever you may say, life is uncertain, you are alive today, tomorrow you can be dead," Enrile said.

Stuck at pre-trial

Enrile attended the pre-trial at the Sandiganbayan Third Division of the plunder case filed against him for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

The charges against Enrile stemmed from allegations that he amassed P172.8 million from his congressional allotment or pork barrel from 2004 to 2010 by channeling these to bogus foundations of Janet Lim Napoles, the scam's alleged mastermind.

Only the case of Enrile remains in the pre-trial stage. The cases of former senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada are already ongoing in the First and Fifth Division, respectively.

Enrile said the delay in his case was caused by issues on the marking of exhibits.

"Obligation ko na pumunta 'pag may hearing, 'pag sinabi ng husgado, pero ngayong araw na ito ay isyu ng marking of exhibits, hindi pa tapos kasi bawat akusado there must be a marking of exhibits. E, nagkaroon ako ng Bill of Particulars, na-suspend yun. Ngayon hindi na natatapos," he said.

Asked if he intends to defend himself before the anti-graft court, Enrile replied he would rather rely on his lawyers led by former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, who is also the legal counsel of Revilla.

"I do not want to be a lawyer of my case. I leave it to my lawyers, I have full confidence in the ability of my lawyers," Enrile said. — BAP, GMA News

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