Enrile says he may be his own lawyer

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile: I grew up in the courtroom. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile may just be his own lawyer in the event the Ombudsman sends his plunder case to the Sandiganbayan.

That is, if the court would allow it.

Enrile on Monday remained unfazed by reports that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was likely to file plunder cases in the Sandiganbayan against himself, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. and others for the alleged misuse of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel.

“Why not? I’m prepared. I’m prepared to deal with the problem in the courtroom,” Enrile told reporters.

“In a fair court and fair trial, I’m ready to face anybody,” he said, brushing aside statements by Morales that there was enough evidence to indict him and his colleagues for plunder.

“I’ve handled criminal cases—not that I’m a criminal lawyer—but as a law practitioner. I grew up in the courtroom,” he said.

Asked if he would be defending himself in court, Enrile said: “If they will allow me. But my lawyers are prepared to handle this case.”

If the court would allow him to be his own lawyer, he said he would not reveal how he would handle his case.

“I’ve never discussed judicial cases before the media,” Enrile said.

Meanwhile, Enrile said it did not matter which body investigated the allegations made by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. In her two affidavits submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee, Napoles said 20 senators and 100 congressmen benefited from kickbacks in the pork barrel scam.–Christine O. Avendaño