Even if I die in my cell, it’s OK — Enrile

(Updated 2 a.m., June 10, 2014) Saying he was ready to die in jail, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday told reporters that he wouldn't ask for special privileges when he's detained in connection with the plunder case filed against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.

 

The 90-year-old senator said he would leave it to the government to determine whether he needs to be placed under house arrest or confined in a hospital.

 

"I’m prepared. Even if I’ll die in my cell, it’s okay. At my age, I’ve gone through life already," Enrile said.

 

He further said that he will "exert all remedies" to defend himself against the plunder charges he is facing.

 

Enrile's fellow lawmakers, including House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., had said that the opposition leader should be extended certain privileges upon his arrest due to old age. 

 

Packed and ready

 

Enrile said has already packed his things for his looming detention for the plunder raps filed in connection with the alleged multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

 

Enrile said he wouldn't resist his impending arrest, saying it was part of the legal process.

 

"Why should I resist? I am a lawyer. I know the process. Why should I resist? I have no reason to resist," Enrile told reporters Monday.

 

"I have been prepared since several days ago. I have already packed up my things to bring into Camp Crame if it is where we’ll... be confined," he added.

 

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against Enrile, along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

 

They were also charged with graft on Monday afternoon.

 

The three senators are being accused of receiving millions in kickbacks from their discretionary funds intended for poor farmers by funneling pork barrel allocations to fake foundations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. All legal remedies Estrada, meanwhile, said that that he would "exhaust all remedies" to counter the plunder charges against him. "Masyado nilang minabilis ang kaso. Mukha yatang hindi binasa iyong aming motion for reconsideration. I disagree doon sa kanyang sinabi na wala kaming bagong arguments," Estrada told reporters in a separate interview. He said he would meet with his lawyers to decide which motions to file before the Sandiganbayan. Estrada further said that he had plans to deliver a privilege speech on Wednesday, though, he did not specify the topic of his speech. On Monday afternoon, Senator Revilla also delivered a privilege speech, in which he challenged President Benigno Aquino III to solve the country's problems now that punder charges were filed against him, Estrada and Enrile. — NB/DVM, GMA News