Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile (center) arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Friday, July 11, to attend his arraignment on graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. He faces one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Third Division has issued a subpoena ordering the head of the Philippine General Hospital to appear before the court to testify regarding detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s health.
In a subpoena issued Monday but made public on Tuesday, the court also said that in addition to PGH Chair Dr. Jose Gonzales, the medical team which conducted Enrile’s checkups should also be present at the hearing.
“You are hereby commanded to appear before the Sandiganbayan, Third Division, on the fourth day of September, 2014, at 1:30 in the afternoon to be present at the hearing, then and there to testify in the above-entitled case pending therein. Fail not under penalty of law,” the subpoena ad testificandum said.
Enrile is temporarily detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, pending the court’s decision on whether he should be allowed hospital arrest.
Enrile faces plunder and graft charges stemming from his alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds, specifically, allegedly diverting millions to bogus NGOs owned by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
He and his co-accused are alleged to have amassed P172.8 million in kickbacks from 2004 to 2010 through Napoles NGOs.
The court earlier ordered the PGH to conduct a complete medical examination on Enrile to determine his physical health status. (MNS)