Santiago asks Senate committee to subpoena Reyes

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines  — Senator  Miriam Defensor-Santiago has  formally asked the Senate  blue ribbon  committee to either  invite or issue a subpoena to  lawyer  Jessica  Lucila  “Gigi” Reyes  in connection with  the  P10 billion “pork barrel” scam.

Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile, came back from the United States last Saturday and reportedly said that she would face the charges lodged against her.

“This is to respectfully propose that the Senate blue ribbon committee should issue an invitation (or subpoena, if necessary) to Atty. Jessica Lucila Reyes, former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. She was reported to have arrived back in Manila last Saturday, April 19 and has expressed her determination to answer the charge of plunder,” Santiago said in her letter on Monday to Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the committee.

The  committee already came up with a draft report on the issue, recommending among others   the filing of charges against Enrile, Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada  and Ramon ”Bong” Revilla  Jr. and several other personalities allegedly involved in the scam.

But Santiago, who signed the draft report, said there was nothing in the Senate rules that prevents the committee from continuing its investigation into the scam.

“As a member, I signed the partial committee report recommending the indictment of three senators. However, I believe that nothing in the Senate rules prevents our committee from continuing the present inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the pork barrel scam,” she said.

“I believe that the testimony of Atty. Reyes  would serve to round off and clarify certain aspects of the partial report, and that the committee findings could be the proper subject of an addendum or similar subsequent report on Atty. Reyes’s testimony ,”  Santiago added.

While she remains on medical leave due to chronic fatigue syndrome, Santiago said she would make herself available for any hearings with Reyes on the witness stand whether the committee decides to hold it before or after the resumption of the session.

Congress is on break and will resume its sessions on May 5.

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