Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile was rushed to the Makati Medical Center for pneumonia before dawn Thursday, the Philippine National Police said. PNP Health Service spokesman Chief Inspector Raymond Santos told dzBB anchor Mike Enriquez that Enrile was transferred to the hospital at 3 a.m. “He needed some lab procedures na walang capability ang (PNP General) Hospital,” Santos said.

Santos said the Sandiganbayan, which had ordered Enrile detained in connection with the P10- billion pork barrel scam, allows such emergency transfers if the PNP General Hospital does not have the necessary facilities. He added pneumonia is potentially dangerous to the elderly and infants.

“Ang pneumonia ay napakadelikado sa may edad na parang pneumonia sa may sanggol. Ayaw namin abutin na critical na critical,” he said.

When asked why Enrile was brought to the MMC at 3 a.m., Santos said Enrile’s symptoms grew worse around midnight, and

“we were forced to transfer.” He said Enrile’s phlegm had “spots” of blood.

“May spot ng dugo. ‘Pag umuubo, may konting spot ng dugo na may phlegm,” he said.

Enrile has been detained at the PNP General Hospital since July last year over plunder and graft charges in connection with  the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Two of his colleagues, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., are likewise detained at the PNP Custodial Center also in connection with the scam. (Joel Locsin/RSJ/KG, GMA)