Sandigan junks Gigi Reyes’ bail plea

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, former senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s former chief of staff who is facing plunder charges for her alleged involvement in the multimillion-peso pork barrel scam, will not be freed on bail.

In a resolution promulgated on June 28, the Sandiganbayan denied Reyes’ petition for bail for lack of merit.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division said there was “strong evidence” that Reyes was involved in the scam.

Reyes has asked the Sandiganbayan to grant her temporary liberty, saying the accusations against her are baseless and false. 

 She is being held at the Taguig City jail female dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Reyes is accused of receiving kickbacks for Enrile whose pork barrel funds were allegedly used to implement ghost projects by bogus non-government organizations controlled by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Enrile described the Sandiganbayan’s decision as “unfortunatate” and reiterated that his former aide was “innocent of the charges.”

The former senator, who is also on trial for plunder, has been granted bail by the court. – Paolo Romero