Enrile, Napoles, and Reyes Cleared of Plunder Charges in the Pork Barrel Scam
CASE DISMISSED – The Sandiganbayan Third Division acquitted former Senate President and current Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, along with his former chief of staff, Atty. Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, in a P172-million plunder case connected to the pork barrel scam. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The plunder case has spanned a decade, originating from an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found sufficient evidence to charge Enrile, Reyes, Napoles, and others for allegedly misusing Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), commonly referred to as the pork barrel. This case was officially filed in June 2014, and in January 2024, prosecutors completed their presentation of evidence against Enrile.
Under Republic Act 7080, public officials can face plunder charges if they “amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt criminal acts,” totaling at least P50 million. Despite the acquittal, Napoles remains incarcerated due to at least two other plunder convictions linked to the same scandal.
Two of Enrile’s co-accused, Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis, remain at large. At the age of 100, Enrile was initially placed under hospital arrest but received provisional liberty in 2015 after posting P1.45 million bail while serving as a senator. His bail petition, filed on September 4, 2014, cited his advanced age and voluntary surrender to the Sandiganbayan.
The anti-graft court’s verdict on Enrile and the others was expected in May 2024 but was postponed twice before being delivered on October 4. This case marks a significant moment in Philippine politics, reflecting ongoing issues of corruption and accountability.
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