Jul 072014
 
Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile is set to undergo a cardiovascular examination on Tuesday morning due to fluctuating blood pressure, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said.

Sindac said Enrile is set 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 PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame where he is confined.

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.

Sindac said that 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 in the day, 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.

Sindac said that Enrile only listed 60 persons as his allowed visitors – 14 family members, nine members of his legal team, nine Senate staff, eight VIPs as well as some senators, security staff and nurse.

Sindac however said that only four visitors at a time can be accomodated in Enrile’s hospital room due to limited space

“The arrangement is that they will take turns before they could see Senator Enrile,” Sindac said.

The visiting hours for Enrile at the PNP General Hospital are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

Enrile is facing one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft for allegedly amassing P172.8 million in kickbacks from 2004 to 2010 by allocating his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) to non-government organizations of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the scam.

On Monday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division, who is handling the cases against Enrile and his co-accused issued another set of arrest warrants for Enrile and 25 others for the graft cases. Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News

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