Gigi Reyes has no plans of leaving the country—lawyer

Lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The lawyer of Jessica Lucile “Gigi” Reyes said his client would not flee the country as she faces plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection to the pork barrel scam.

“Wala siyang balak umalis (She has no plans of leaving). In fact, umuwi siya rito (He went home here) precisely to face charges against her, because she believes that she will be able to prove her innocence,” lawyer Anacleto Diaz told reporters on Tuesday after the Sandiganbayan third division heard their motion to suspend the proceedings.

“There is absolutely no evidence establishing her participation in the crimes charged,” he added.

Diaz made the statement after the Sandiganbayan third division issued hold departure orders against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and several others co-accused in the pork scam, which included Reyes.

Reyes, Enrile’s former chief of staff, also faces plunder and graft charges. The other accused are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Former Napoles aide Ruby Tuason has testified that she personally handed to Reyes millions of pesos in kickbacks for Enrile in meetings in restaurants. In some of the meetings, Tuason told a senate hearing, Enrile was present.

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.

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