Enrile allowed to file demurrer in pork scam case

Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Juan Ponce Enrile (File photo by Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)_

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has allowed Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile to file a demurrer to evidence in the pending plunder case against him in relation to the multimillion pork barrel scam and gave the 99-year-old politician a “nonextendible period” of 10 days to file his motion to dismiss the case.

A demurrer to evidence, granted on the ground that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence in court, allows an accused to seek dismissal of the charges against him.

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The same court, however, denied a similar pleading by Enrile’s co-accused and former chief of staff, Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, for lack of merit.

She was however given five days to file a demurrer without prior leave of court, which means she can still pursue a demurrer and, at the same time, waive her right to present evidence and submit the case for judgment on the basis of the prosecution’s evidence.

Otherwise, the defense is set to present evidence on Oct. 17 and Oct. 19 and every Tuesday and Thursday before the court. The 2 orders were signed by Third Division Judges Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Bernelito Fernandez, and Ronald Moreno.