Prosecutor opposes move to suspend proceedings on Reyes’ plunder case

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 10 years ago

Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor opposed the move to suspend proceedings on the plunder case of Jessica Lucile “Gigi” Reyes, saying the Supreme Court has not yet issued a temporary restraining order.

In a six-page comment/opposition on the accused’s motion to suspend proceedings, the prosecutor said the Revised Rules of Court said proceedings cannot be interrupted by a petition for certiorari without the issuance of a temporary restraining order.

Reyes, the former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and a co-accused in the case, is asking the anti-graft court to defer its proceedings on the plunder charges against her so as not to prejudice the Supreme Court’s pending decision on her motions for a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction.

Reyes’ camp in the motion also said suspending the proceedings would save the court some time and resources “should the Supreme Court find that the Ombudsman violated the accused’s constitutional rights and annul the assailed resolutions issued by the Ombudsman.”

But the prosecutor said there remains “no valid reason” to suspend proceedings.

“In fine, without a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction emanating from the Supreme Court in relation to Reyes’ petition by June 19, 2014, no valid reason stands for the suspension of proceedings in herein case,” the comment/opposition said.

The prosecutor also said, “It is upon Reyes, as movant, to establish the existence of strong probability that the issues raised before the higher court will be rendered moot and moribund by the continuation of proceedings herein,” the comment/opposition said.

The prosecution also said Reyes’ allegations of violations of her rights “as yet remain mere allegations.”

“Otherwise stated, the issues claimed to be at risk are speculative,” the prosecutor added.

Reyes is co-accused in the plunder and graft charges against Enrile. The other accused are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

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.

The pork barrel scam is an elaborate scheme of allegedly diverting billions of Priority Development Assistance Funds to ghost projects for kickbacks.