MANILA, Philippines - Doctors have advised Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the three pillars of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), to slow down due to health concerns, UNA re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan said Monday.
Honasan said that Enrile has informed his partymates that he will not be able to campaign for the opposition party’s senatorial candidates, who included his only son, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile.
Honasan revealed that he had talked the other day with Enrile who conveyed that he has to “slow down†in the campaign upon doctors’ advice.
He said the elder Enrile suffered some bleeding in one of his eyes, and his doctors have advised him total rest. It is barely two and a half months before the May elections.
“Nagkausap kami nung isang araw at sinabi nga niya, nagkaroon siya ng parang konting bleeding sa kanyang mata at nagpapahinga nga daw muna sya at humihingi ng paumanhin of course sa Team UNA na hindi muna sya makakasama,†Honasan said in a phone-patch interview with reporters at the Senate. “Ang advise ng doctor niya is mag- slow down muna siya.â€
Once he gets a break during the campaign, Honasan said he will personally visit Enrile, who is his mentor in the military and political arena.
“I cannot blame him because only a very few 89-year-old can campaign as vigorously,†Honasan said.
“I have not checked on him but I’ll try to get an update from him so that I will know how his health is, and if he is indeed okay,†the senator added.