Gigi Reyes to testify in court, defend herself vs pork plunder raps

Lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes will testify before the Sandiganbayan and will defend herself against the P172 million plunder case filed against her, her former boss ex-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and others over the alleged misuse of Enrile’s discretionary or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

This latest development comes as the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday granted Reyes’ motion that she be allowed to testify. She is scheduled to give her testimony on November 14.

However, Reyes' counsel Lawyer Christian Diaz, also told the anti-graft court that their camp had yet to decide if Reyes’ direct testimony would be in the form of a judicial affidavit or if she would deliver her direct testimony on the witness stand.

Being a witness, Reyes would be cross-examined by the panel of government prosecutors.

Reyes' motion also sought to cancel today’s hearing due to the unavailability of the intended first witness for Reyes - the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) head Eireen Palanca.

Instead of Palanca, former LBRMO chief and lawyer Yolando Dublon would testify in Reyes’ defense on Thursday, November 9.

State prosecutor Jennifer Agustin-Se did not object to Reyes’ motion, provided that the hearing on the case would proceed on November 9 as scheduled.

“There being no objection on the part of the prosecution, the hearing scheduled today is canceled and let a subpoena ad testificandum be issued to Yolando Dublon, directing her to testify on November 9 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon,” Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno said.

“The next witness for the defense will be the accused herself, who is scheduled to testify on November 14 also at 2 o'clock in the afternoon,” Moreno added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News