Protesters gather in front of the Department of Justice building in Manila to urge Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to reject Janet Napoles’ request to be accepted into the Witness Protection Program. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZ
Protesters gather in front of the Department of Justice building in Manila to urge Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to reject Janet Napoles’ request to be accepted into the Witness Protection Program. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZ

SEN. Antonio Trillanes 4th on Wednesday said Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile should not be detained in an ordinary jail once the Sandiganbayan orders his arrest along with two other senators facing plunder charges.

Given the advance age of Enrile, who is now 90 years old, it is only proper for him to be given consideration, Trillanes added.

While the law calls for the detention of the three implicated senators once the anti-graft court issues arrest warrants against them, Trillanes said Enrile “has needs that can’t be provided in an ordinary detention facility.”

He, however, dismissed the idea of placing the older senator in Senate custody.

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Enrile and Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are facing plunder and other graft-related complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam reportedly designed by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

The Justice department accused the senators of channeling portions of their pork barrel to bogus non-governmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks.

Last month, the Ombudsman announced that it found probable cause to file plunder and other criminal charges against the three senators, their staff and several government officials and private individuals.