Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday filed a motion to oppose the issuance of a warrant against him over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
In a 30-page supplemental opposition to issuance of warrant of arrest, Enrile’s camp said the former Senate President was not “informed of the nature and cause of accusation against him.”
Because of this, the case should be dismissed because the information against him is void, the motion read.
“Being void for non-compliance with the requirement of the Constitution that in all criminal prosecution, the accused ‘be informed of the nature and cause of accusation against him,’ no warrant of arrest may be issued…” the motion read.
Enrile’s camp lawyers also said the plunder charge against him did not categorically state that he received kickbacks in a “combination or series of overt criminal acts.”
“The phrase ‘combination or series of overt criminal acts’ in the Information is but a conclusion of law, and not a statement of fact…” the motion read.
“It is respectfully prayed that no warrant of arrest be issued against the accused in the instant case. Since the information is void, the case should further be dismissed,” the motion added,
Senators Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
The Ombudsman said it found probable cause to indict Revilla with one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft; Enrile with one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft; and Estrada with one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft.
Also charged was alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
The pork barrel scam is an elaborate scheme of allegedly diverting billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to ghost projects for kickbacks.
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