TURNING 92 years old on Feb. 14, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said he is ready to go because he has already fulfilled his duty to his country and the Filipino people.
“I do not know when, I might be talking to you today, but tomorrow, I might no longer open my eyes. We do not know when. Nobody can tell when God will get us so we should always be prepared,” Enrile told The Standard in an interview.
Enrile said he has nothing more to ask God for anything because he had already been given much and he has already fulfilled his job to his country and to the Filipino people. Aside from being a politician for 32 years, he also served as minister of defense and secretary of justice and finance.
“I don’t even buy shoes. I don’t buy anything. When I’m at home I’m just in shorts and I walk around without slippers. After this week, I’ll be out in the province. I’ll go back to fishing,” said Enrile.
“I have no more birthdays. I’m counting it backwards,” Enrile jokingly told reporters, adding that he is already having a hard time hearing or even seeing people. He also has a problem walking because his balance is bad, “that’s why I have people beside me and I hold on to people.”
Instead of asking for more, Enrile said he thanks God everyday for everything and for reaching his age.
“I thank our God every morning when I wake up for another day,” Enrile said. “Then I thank him again for letting me have that day before I go to bed. I’m sure when you reach my age you will do the same thing.”
He dismissed reports that he underwent regeneration of cells, replacing the old cell, which was the reason for his extraordinary strength when he sprang from his sickbed at the PNP General Hospital to the halls of the Senate where he led the hearing of the much-publicized Mamasapano tragedy.
“The only regeneration that I had was eating pako, pako salad and asitaba,” said Enrile, adding he gets cramps and suffers from pain.
“Today, everyday, they take my blood pressure. They take my pulse rate, they take my temperature. That’s the doctor’s advice. And I take certain medicines that I will not disclose.”
Asked about a report that medical specialists and scientists were conducting studies and experiments on his apparent “miraculous” recovery, Enrile called it a silly lie and baloney.
Last Wednesday, Enrile blocked the confirmation of his seven appointees of President Benigno Aquino III, including Audit Commissioner Isabelle Dasalla-Agito and Civil Service Commissioner Nieves Osorio during the Commission on Appointments hearing.
He castigated Aquino for depriving the next President the right to choose his own representatives to other countries, and packing the constitutional commissions with his people.