Graft court denies bail for Enrile aide anew

MANILA, Philippines — Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, the former chief of staff of ex-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, again failed to convince the Sandiganbayan to grant her temporary liberty in connection with her 6-year-old plunder case.

Voting 3-2 in a decision rendered by a special third division, the antigraft court said Reyes did not present evidence to prove she was at risk of COVID-19 infection while in detention. Reyes’ main argument for her new bail petition was that she should be released on humanitarian grounds amid the pandemic.

“There is no evidence presented that accused Reyes is in danger of acquiring COVID-19 while in detention,” the court said in a resolution.

The 35-page decision, dated Sept. 29, was penned by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, with Associate Justices Ronald Moreno and Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta concurring. Two other associate justices, Bernelito Fernandez and Geraldine Faith Econg, dissented.

Fernandez is a member of the regular third division and his dissent triggered the creation of a special division of five.

Under the rules of procedure, if a division does not reach a unanimous vote, two additional Justices will join the group and the majority will prevail.

In the resolution, the court said it was denying Reyes’ plea to be granted temporary liberty since there seems to be no real risk of her contacting the virus.

The Sandiganbayan added that there have also been no recorded cases of the coronavirus disease in Camp Bagong Diwa.

In her dissenting opinion, Econg said it was premature to deny Reyes’ plea since she had not had a medical examination in nearly six years.