Sandiganbayan orders Enrile’s arrest

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan third division on Friday found probable cause to hold Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on trial for his plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The Sandiganbayan has issued the arrest warrant against the 90-year-old former Senate President and his co-accused in plunder.

Those ordered arrested for plunder besides Enrile were: Enrile’s resigned chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, Napoles’ employee and nephew Ronald John Lim, Napoles’ driver John Raymund De Asis.

Atty. Dennis Pulma, third division clerk of court, said the warrants are already on their way to Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

He, however, has no information, if Enrile will surrender to the court.

In the resolution, the court said it was denying Enrile’s motion for bail.

The court said his motion is premature because bail should be granted to an accused who has voluntarily surrendered or has yet to be placed under the law’s custody.

“It is a dictum that a person applying for bail should be in the custody of the law or otherwise deprived of liberty,” the resolution read.

“Indeed, bail is unavailing with respect to an accused who has not voluntarily surrendered or has yet to be placed in legal custody,” it added.

“Here, accused Enrile has not voluntarily surrendered or been placed under the custody of the law. Hence, his prayer that he be granted bail is premature,” the resolution said.

By finding probable cause, the court also junked Enrile’s motion to defer arrest warrant, as well as the motion to suspend proceedings filed by Napoles and her cohorts Lim and De Asis “for lack of merit.

Meanwhile, the court deferred the arrests of Napoles’ children Jo Christine and James Christopher for their graft.

The court said it asked the Office of Special Prosecutor to submit additional evidence.

The Ombudsman, in indicting the lawmaker, said Enrile with his co-accused in plunder, amassed P172.834 million in commissions from 2003 to 2010 from the alleged illegal disbursement of his Priority Development Assistance Funds or pork barrel.

Enrile faces one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft. Plunder, a criminal offense for public officials allegedly amassing at least P50 million in ill-gotten wealth, is a non-bailable offense.

Also charged were Napoles and Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. Revilla and Estrada have surrendered to police after the arrest warrants against them were issued.

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