Pork scam suspect and former Enrile aide Gigi Reyes back in the PHL

Seen as a key personality in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam and charged with plunder because of it, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's former chief of staff, Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, returned to the Philippines early Saturday.

Reyes landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 via PR-105 from San Francisco, GMA News reported.

"I'm facing the charges. I've always faced it," Reyes was reported to have said when she arrived.
 

EXCLUSIVE: Fmr JPE COS Atty Gigi Reyes at NAIA T2 this am. She says she's ready to face plunder charges. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/EnXPkEjPqv

— Saleema Refran (@saleema_refran) April 18, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Last April 1, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Reyes, Senators Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as alleged scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles, with plunder.

The National Bureau of Investigation had alleged that Reyes had signed documents related to the release of Enrile's pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations linked to Napoles.

On April 7, Reyes' representatives had asked the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision to file plunder charges against her over the P10-billion scam.

Reyes claimed her constitutional right to due process was violated, and denied receiving any commission from Enrile's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the infamous pork barrel.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, meanwhile, had proposed Reyes be made a state witness. Santiago believes that Reyes testimony was an absolute necessity as it was direct evidence to prove plunder against Enrile.

Reyes resigned as Enrile's chief of staff last January, amid accusations she had personally wielded power over Senate matters on behalf of Enrile, who was then the Senate President. — Joel Locsin/DVM, GMA News