THE Sandiganbayan has ruled out bail for the former chief of staff of ex-senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, saying there was strong evidence against her for the charge of plunder.
In a resolution dated June 28, the anti-graft court said documentary evidence existed showing Reyes’ involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.
“With the detailed testimonies of the whistleblowers on how the entire scheme took place and despite the extensive cross-examination conducted on them, their testimonies remain trustworthy,” the court said, referring to Benjur Luy, Marina Sula and Merlina Suñas.
The court also noted that another state witness against Enrile and Ryes, Ruby Tuason, confirmed she made deliveries of kickbacks to Reyes from 2006 to 2009, and that she made these deliveries in coffee shops, restaurants, and sometimes, Reyes’ home.
The Sandiganbayan rejected Reyes’ defense that she was not a flight risk.
“Since plunder is a capital offense, the grant of bail is therefore discretionary and not a matter of right. In view of the foregoing, this court finds the evidence against accused-movant Reyes to be strong,” it said.
The denial of bail, however, could not be taken as an indication of the ultimate outcome of the plunder case, it added.
“This court is merely confronted with a motion for bail and not a disposition of the cases after a trial on the merits. There is still a long way to go and there will also be other evidence that will eventually be presented by the parties,” it said.
Enrile and Reyes were accused of comspiring with businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to release millions of pesos of the senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund to ghost projects in exchange for kickbacks.
