Enrile’s ex-aide fails anew to have plunder case dismissed

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal of Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, the former chief of staff of presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, to file a demurrer to evidence that would allow her to seek the dismissal of the plunder case against her without presenting her defense.

In a minute resolution dated Oct. 17, the court’s Third Division said Reyes failed to raise any new arguments in her motion for reconsideration that would warrant the reversal of its Sept. 19 ruling denying her motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence.

The Third Division found no merit in Reyes’ claim of “partiality” amid its earlier resolution granting Enrile’s motion for leave to file his demurrer.

The Third Division set Reyes’ presentation of evidence on Nov. 7 and 9 and every Tuesday and Thursday thereafter.

Meanwhile, in a separate minute resolution dated Oct. 13, the Third Division has ruled to hold off its decision on Enrile’s demurrer to evidence until his co-accused, Reyes and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, finish their presentation of counter-evidence.

The Third Division noted that Enrile filed his demurrer on Sept. 29 while the prosecution submitted its opposition to the demurrer on Oct. 11.

Filed by the ombudsman in June 2014, the case stemmed from Enrile’s alleged receipt, through Reyes, of a total of P172.83 million in commissions or kickbacks from Napoles in exchange for the alleged allocation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to the latter’s bogus non-government organizations during his term as a senator from 2004 to 2010.

Napoles is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City following her conviction for plunder in connection with the misuse of the P517-million PDAF of then senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who was acquitted.

Enrile was granted bail by the Supreme Court (SC) in 2015 for “humanitarian consideration”, citing his frail health condition and old age.

Reyes was released from the Taguig City Jail female dormitory in January after nearly nine years of detention after the SC granted her petition for writ of habeas corpus.

Enrile, Reyes and Napoles are also facing 15 counts each of graft, still in connection with the pork barrel scam. The cases are also being tried by the Third Division.