Enrile's Plea to Dismiss Plunder Case Delayed

Philippine Senator Juan Ponce Enrile attends a court hearing

(Photo: by Ritchie B. Tongo-Pool/Getty Images) QUEZON CITY - PHILIPPINES - JULY 11: Filipino senator Juan Ponce Enrile (C) who is accused of plunder and graft charges, attends a court hearing on a plunder case charged against him at the Sandiganbayan on July 11, 2014, in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines.

The Sandiganbayan has not yet made a decision regarding Juan Ponce Enrile's request for the expedited dismissal of his plunder case due to the alleged abuse of his pork barrel. Enrile is the main presidential legal adviser.

According to a ruling made by the anti-graft court's Third Division on October 13, Enrile's plea will be resolved concurrently with the main decision or jointly with it when the other co-accused's evidence is presented, as reported by CNN Philippines.

According to the court, its actions are being taken "for the orderly disposition of this case" and "pursuant to Section 8, Rule VIII of the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan."

Last month, Enrile submitted a demurrer to evidence, basically asking for the prompt dismissal of his case when the prosecution rested.

In exchange for redirecting his pork barrel to phony non-governmental groups run by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, he is accused of pocketing over $170 million in bribes.

Enrile, Reyes, and businesswoman Napoles, the accused architect of the pork barrel scheme, were charged with plunder and 15 charges of graft in June 2014 by the Office of the Ombudsman, which at the time was run by Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The cases arose from allegations that Enrile received commissions or kickbacks from Napoles totaling P172.83 million through Reyes in exchange for the alleged distribution of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to the latter's phony non-governmental organizations from 2004 to 2010.

Following her conviction for theft in connection with the misappropriation of P517 million from Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.'s PDAF, Napoles is presently being held in the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Revilla wasn't found guilty in the case.

After his application for leave was approved on September 18, 2023, Enrile filed his demurrer on September 29, 2023.

On October 11, 2023, the prosecution submitted its response to the demurrer.

Enrile was freed in August 2015 when the Supreme Court agreed to his request for bail, citing his ill health, lack of flight risk due to his position in society and politics, and his quick submission.

For humanitarian reasons, the former senator is free on bail.

Gigi Reyes Denied Demurer

Meanwhile, the Third Division refused Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes, Enrile's former chief of staff, in a separate minute ruling dated September 19 for "lack of merit" in her motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence.

But according to the Third Division's resolution, Reyes is still permitted to file her demurrer without the need for court permission, with the caveat that "she shall waive her right to present evidence and submit this case for judgment on the bases of the evidence adduced by the prosecution."

If Reyes decides not to file another demurrer, the Third Division has scheduled Reyes' presentation of her evidence for October 17 and 19, as well as every Tuesday and Thursday going forward.