Graft court set to rule on Enrile plunder case
THE Sandiganbayan's Third Division is set to hand down its ruling in the plunder case filed in 2014 against former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and other individuals. The promulgation of the decision, which will be read in court, was posted in the court's calendar and was scheduled for Friday morning. Enrile's co-accused include lawyer Jessica Lucila or Gigi Reyes and Janet Lim Napoles. In January 2024, Reyes presented her last witness before the court. Before this, the court had allowed Enrile to file a demurrer to evidence, which is a document seeking to dismiss a case. A demurrer to evidence is filed after the prosecution has finished presenting its witnesses. If the court approves Enrile's demurrer to evidence, the case against him will be dismissed. But if it denies his demurrer to evidence, he can choose to present witnesses, which the court will consider later on in deciding his case. Napoles, who was detained, had filed a demurrer to evidence without leave of court, which means there will be no more presentation of witnesses for the defendant if the court denies the demurrer to evidence. Reyes, Enrile's former chief of staff, had said in court that she did not amass or accumulate any amount from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Enrile. Reyes said she never abused her authority. The case was filed before the Sandiganbayan in 2014 by the Office of the Ombudsman. Two of the accused were at large, based on the court calendar: Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis. Reyes was released from detention in 2023 after the Supreme Court, saying her confinement violated her right to a speedy trial and infringed on her right to liberty, granted a petition she had filed. Unlike her former boss, she has been detained for nine years. Enrile, who was under hospital arrest for more than a year, was released from detention in 2015 after the Supreme Court granted his petition and ordered his provisional release upon posting a cash bond. He is now the government's chief presidential counsel.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Sandiganbayan's Third Division is set to hand down its ruling in the plunder case filed in 2014 against former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and other individuals.
The promulgation of the decision, which will be read in court, was posted in the court's calendar and was scheduled for Friday morning.
Enrile's co-accused include lawyer Jessica Lucila or Gigi Reyes and Janet Lim Napoles.
In January 2024, Reyes presented her last witness before the court.
Before this, the court had allowed Enrile to file a demurrer to evidence, which is a document seeking to dismiss a case. A demurrer to evidence is filed after the prosecution has finished presenting its witnesses.
If the court approves Enrile's demurrer to evidence, the case against him will be dismissed.
But if it denies his demurrer to evidence, he can choose to present witnesses, which the court will consider later on in deciding his case.
Napoles, who was detained, had filed a demurrer to evidence without leave of court, which means there will be no more presentation of witnesses for the defendant if the court denies the demurrer to evidence.
Reyes, Enrile's former chief of staff, had said in court that she did not amass or accumulate any amount from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Enrile.
Reyes said she never abused her authority.
The case was filed before the Sandiganbayan in 2014 by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Two of the accused were at large, based on the court calendar: Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis.
Reyes was released from detention in 2023 after the Supreme Court, saying her confinement violated her right to a speedy trial and infringed on her right to liberty, granted a petition she had filed. Unlike her former boss, she has been detained for nine years.
Enrile, who was under hospital arrest for more than a year, was released from detention in 2015 after the Supreme Court granted his petition and ordered his provisional release upon posting a cash bond. He is now the government's chief presidential counsel.
