Sandiganbayan justice lectures prosecutors on rights of accused

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The prosecutors on Thursday received a lecture on rights of the accused from a Sandiganbayan justice during the arraignment of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

Enrile’s camp protested the denial of their motion for Bill of Particulars.

“To be very candid, I can hardly catch my breath with the pace of these proceedings,” Enrile’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza said.

The prosecutor said, “Accused Enrile should have been prepared for any eventuality. He should be able to act appropriately,” the prosecutor said.

The justices are asking Enrile if they will still file a motion to quash with the denial of their Bill of Particulars.

The prosecutor said, “We request that the accused should no longer be allowed to file a motion.”

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires said, “The accused also has rights,” which he said should be respected.

“If we arraign him today, his right to file a motion to quash will no longer be available,” Martires said.

Eventually, the defense opted not to file a motion to quash and Enrile’s arraignment pushed through.

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