Enrile’s heart checkup postponed to 6 p.m. Tuesday

The heart checkup of Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile has been postponed to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, a radio report said. 

 

According to a report on radio dzBB, the 90-year-old senator was supposed to undergo a two-dimensional echocardiogram (2D Echo) with doppler at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, following a recommendation from his physicians at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame where he is confined.

 

The report said the examination will still take place at the PNP General Hospital.

 

On Friday, Enrile's blood pressure shot up to 200/90 as he surrendered to the PNP after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant for plunder charges in connection with his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

 

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said based on the latest medical examination on Monday, Enrile's blood pressure went down to 140/70 with a pulse rate of 63 beats per minute.

 

Sindac however said that the PNP doctors still recommended that Enrile undergo the 2D Echo exam to get a clear picture of his heart and assess the flow of blood through and out of his arteries.

 

Earlier, Enrile's camp asked the Sandiganbayan to temporarily place the 90-year-old senator under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital pending the resolution of his motion for bail.

 

In his petition, Enrile cited his advanced age and frail medical condition in his request for hospital detention.

 

A medical certificate issued by Dr. Claver Ramos of Makati Medical Center dated May 6, 2014 stated that Enrile has diabetes mellitus, dyslipiddemia, hypertension, extensive coronary artery calcification in the right coronary, left anterior descending and left circumflex, premature heart beats, macular degeneration and several other age-related diseases. Enrile is taking 22 kinds of medication for his ailments. —Amanda Fernandez/KG, GMA News