Sandigan denies Gigi Reyes' bid for temporary release amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes for provisional release on humanitarian grounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a 50-page ruling dated September 29, the anti-graft court ruled that  Reyes — detained due to a pending P172-million plunder case in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam — failed to present evidence that she is in danger of acquiring COVID-19 while in detention.

Reyes is a former chief of staff to former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, her co-accused in the plunder case.

"It is worthy to mention that compared to other detention facilities where there has been transmission of COVID-19 among its detainees and staff, there is no report that there are inmates, or even personnel, of Camp Bagong Diwa who have tested positive for COVID-19,” the court said.

"There is no positive showing that accused Reyes is in actual or even imminent danger of being infected by the COVID-19," it added.

The Sandiganbayan also mentioned that during one of its visits to Camp Bagong Diwa, it saw that Reyes was separated from other detainees "hence, negating the probability that she would be infected by the virus from other inmates therein."

Likewise, the anti-graft court noted that Reyes cannot ask the Sandiganbayan for temporary release since she has questioned its decision denying her petition for bail before the Supreme Court.

"She challenged the said denial before the Supreme Court via a petition for certiorari which is pending before the High Tribunal. Thus, the question of whether accused Reyes may be released provisionally is a matter that should be addressed before the Supreme Court," it said.

“Unquestionably, the issue presented in the subject motion and that raised in the pending petition before the Supreme Court are inextricably interwoven. Wherefore, the Motion for Provisional Release of Accused Jessica Lucila G. Reyes Based on Humanitarian Grounds Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic dated May 27,2020, is denied for lack of merit and on the ground of forum -shopping,” it added. —KBK, GMA News