Enrile asks SC to reverse Sandigan’s denial of bail plea
Sen Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines—Detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s ruling denying his bid to post bail.
In his 70-page petition, he said the plunder charged filed against him cannot be considered a “capital offense.”
“The prosecution failed to show clearly and conclusively that Enrile, if ever he would be convicted, is punishable by reclusion perpetua; hence, Enrile is entitled to bail as a matter of right,” the petition stated.
Enrile said there is not enough evidence against him. He added that he is not a flight risk and that his age and voluntary surrender should be considered in his bid to post bail.
“Considering the undisputed presence of two mitigating circumstances (advanced age and voluntary surrender), the prescribed penalty, under the plunder law, is only reclusion temporal, thus automatically entitling Enrile to post bail,” the petition stated.
Enrile also pushed for an oral argument of his case.
The senator, who was suspended for 90 days, was accused of amassing over P170 million in kickbacks from 2004 to 2010.
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