Enrile refuses to enter plea

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile refused to enter a plea Friday before the Sandiganbayan Third Division in the arraignment for the plunder charge filed against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The court entered a "not guilty" plea for the 90-year-old lawmaker, who was brought to the anti-graft court from the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame where he is under custody.

Co-accused Janet Lim Napoles, tagged as the mastermind in the embezzlement of Enrile's funds allocation, pleaded not guilty in the third plunder case against her.

On Thursday, Enrile sought to defer the arraignment due to poor health. He was recorded to have an above-normal blood pressure following his surrender to the Camp Crame police headquarters on July 4.

PNP Health Service Chief Alejandro Advincula said in a radio report that Enrile was accompanied by a medical team during the arraignment.

He was also wearing a Holter monitor recording his heart rhythms.

Enrile's former chief of staff and co-accused, Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, meanwhile, failed to attend the arraignment. 

Reyes was rushed to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital early Thursday morning due to panic attacks following her transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig from the Sandiganbayan basement jail.

Hospital chief Dr. Prudencio Sta. Lucia said in a statement Friday that Reyes refuses to eat, claiming loss of appetite and dizziness.