Gigi Reyes as state witness still ‘a big question mark’ for De Lima

Amid speculation that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes could become a government witness in plunder cases related to the so-called pork barrel scam, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Sunday reiterated that Reyes is still one of the principal suspects in the multibillion-peso scam.

“As far as the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation [are] concerned, she remains one of the principal respondents in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) cases, who has been rightfully indicted for plunder and other graft cases for her remarkable role vis-a-vis Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s PDAF,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

Dennis Cunanan, on leave as Technology Resource Center (TRC) chief, told senators in March that he dealt with Reyes regarding PDAF projects that were allegedly given to spurious non-government organizations.

Cunanan, himself implicated in the scam, is a "provisional" state witness pending approval from the Ombudsman.

In the same text message, De Lima admitted that she was unaware Reyes planned to return to the Philippines.

“But I'm not surprised at all [that she returned].  But as to whether she can qualify at all as a state witness, [that] is another matter. To me, it's a big question mark,” De Lima said.

The Justice secretary left the decision on whether or not Reyes can turn state witness to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Reyes returned to the Philippines early Saturday. According to the Bureau of Immigration, she left the country in late August last year.
 

On 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, for plunder.

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

For De Lima, it was only natural for Reyes to come home, since it is “not easy for such personalities to be ‘on the run.’”

“In any case, what her real agenda is in coming back at this stage remains to be seen. Maybe it's out of necessity because she felt she has run out of options or out of self-preservation. Let's just wait and see,” De Lima said.

But for Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the only logical reason for Reyes to come home is to turn state witness.

“Matalino 'yang tao. Alam na niya noon na pipigain na si Enrile, [kaya] umalis siya. Sana [ngayon] gagawin nalang ni Gigi ang tama – mag-state witness siya,” Satiago said in an interview aired over dzBB.

The senator, who has been very vocal about her opinion that Enrile is the mastermind of the whole PDAF scam, said Reyes will be very valuable to the prosecution.

 "Gigi Reyes, is almost [an] immeasurable asset to the prosecution. For me, this is a very good example of an opportunity to make a landmark case in Philippine jurisprudence," she said.

Meanwhile, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Reyes should only allowed to turn state witness if she dishes the dirt on her former boss.

“Acceptable [siya maging state winess kung makakapagbigay siya ng testimonya na makakapagdiin sa kanyang boss,” Tinio said in an interview over dzBB.

The minority lawmaker added that he believes Reyes is already in talks with Malacañang regarding her possible status as state witness.
 

Rep.@tonchi Tinio on Gigi Reyes: Most likely ay nag-usap na (w/ palace) at marahil nakasentro sa usapin ng pagiging statewitness. @dzbb

— rowena l. salvacion (@wengsalvacion) April 20, 2014

Under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, state witnesses admitted into the witness protection program are entitled to "immunity from criminal prosecution for the offense or offenses in which [their] testimony will be given or used." — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News