Cagayan leaders urge ombudsman to cancel Enrile's bail
MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba urged the Office of the Ombudsman to seek the cancellation of former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's bail who has recently filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2019 elections.
The STAR reported that Mamba and former Buguey, Cagayan Mayor Ignacio Taruc asked Ombudsman Samuel Martires to cancel the bail granted by the Supreme Court to Enrile.
The high tribunal in August 2015 reversed the Sandiganbayan’s ruling and allowed Enrile to post bail, citing his fragile health and advanced age.
The former senator is accused of pocketing millions by funneling government money through bogus non-governmental organizations. He is currently on trial for plunder charges in connection with the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.
Mamba and Taruc pointed out that Enrile is now gunning for a seat in the Senate where he is expected to mount a nationwide campaign “that even a healthy person will find strenuous.”
Former Buguey, Cagayan mayor Manuel Mamba asks @OmbudsmanPh Samuel Martires to seek the cancellation of bail of ex-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile before the Supreme Court. @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/BtJWm3fUJl
— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) October 24, 2018
“This only proves that Enrile falsely appealed to the Supreme Court’s pity to gain the relief of bail. It means that he is not so 'ill' as to be incapable of flight, as the [SC] declared,” they said.
A week after posting bail in 2015, the veteran lawmaker reported for work at the Senate.
Enrile personally filed his COC at the Commission on Elections on October 17. He assured that he is healthy enough to run a campaign.
Plunder case
Mamba and Taruc stressed to Martires, a former SC justice, that the high court “deviated from the well-settled rule that bail is not available when one is charged of an offense punishable by reclusion perpetua and evidence of guilt is strong.”
“The High Court did not even allow the Sandiganbayan to make a determination on whether there is strong evidence of Juan Ponce Enrile’s guilt through trial as this is, and should be based on the Sandiganbayan’s discretion, not the SC,” they added.
The SC reaped strong criticism for allowing Enrile to post bail despite a conviction at the anti-graft court.
The local government leaders also stressed that they have witnessed how Enrile and his men "ravaged" Cagayan for four decades.
“Enrile is, and has always been, a liar and plunderer, no matter how frail he may look. Please do not be moved by his deception. At the end of the day, he is, as he should be, made accountable for his actions. Just as Government demands of an ordinary citizen,” they added. — Kristine Joy Patag
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