JPE scores delay in resolving pending case against him

MANILA – Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile scored the delays in the resolution of cases pending against him before the courts.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a legislative hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Enrile said he welcomes the Supreme Court decision to allow the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the pending charges against him.

"Let them decide. Until now, they are not deciding. Mahigit sampung taon na ‘yan, walang ebidensya na ipinipresenta sa akin (It has been pending for more than 10 years. No evidence against me has been presented)," he said.

"Hindi lang yun, ang dami kong kaso, coconut levy, nakinabang sila (Not only that. I have other cases including the coco levy which benefited them). Until now, I do not know what happened to my cases," he said.

The SC earlier ruled to allow the Sandiganbayan to continue hearing the case against Enrile in connection with alleged irregularities in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) two decades ago.

“The prosecution must be allowed to present evidence based on its own discretion and in accordance with the law and the rules… Its discretion is limited only by the requirement that the evidence must be admissible,” it said in a decision dated Feb. 27 and made public Monday.

In 2014, the Ombudsman charged Enrile, his chief of staff Jessica Lucila Reyes, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis with plunder in relation to Enrile’s PDAF transactions between 2004 and 2010.

Enrile was accused of pocketing PHP 172 million of his PDAF. (PNA)