Aquino to Sandiganbayan: Consider Enrile’s age, frail health

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said the Sandiganbayan should consider Senator Juan Ponce Enrile's old age and frail body in determining where he will be detained once a warrant of arrest is issued against him in connection with the P10-B pork barrel scam.

 

"I’m sure the courts... will be cognizant of fulfilling the[ir] obligations, but at the same time, [they should] factor the advanced age of Senator Enrile," Aquino told reporters during his one-day working visit to Japan.

 

The President said this is reflected in Section 19 of the Bill of Rights which states "excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted."

 

"The way I read that, the guy... the senator is 90 years old, the guy is known to have a lot of ailments that has to be… Parang dapat may consideration naman yun—that is already an established fact," he said.

 

He even recounted his observations about Enrile when he was still in the Senate.

 

"When we were all together in the Senate... he reads with a magnifying glass, 'yung eyedrops na napaka-constant... that is not a hidden fact," he said. 

Still no warrant of arrest