Gigi Reyes not entitled to bail, Sandiganbayan insists

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has stood firm in its decision not to grant bail to lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes who is on trial for plunder in connection with the pork barrel fund scam.

In a ruling promulgated on Dec. 7, magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Special Third Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Reyes for lack of merit.

Reyes, chief of staff of former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, sought a reversal of the Sandiganbayan’s June 28 decision, which denied her petition for bail.

Among the arguments raised by Reyes was the alleged delay in the resolution of her bail request, which took five months and 25 days.

The anti-graft court, however, ruled that such delay was not deliberate considering the newly appointed magistrate of the Third Division needed to study the voluminous records of the case. 

“After re-evaluation of the records of the case, the court denies the movant’s petition and supplemental motion for reconsideration,” the decision read.

Presiding Justice and Third Division chairperson Amparo Cabotaje-Tang penned the ruling.

The Sandiganbayan said the prosecution had presented proof that Reyes “participated in the commission of the crime of plunder based on the testimonies of witnesses, including whistle-blower Benhur Luy.”

Reyes is being held on plunder charges at the Taguig City jail female dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa.

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