Sandiganbayan reskeds verdict on 15 graft raps vs. Enrile, Gigi Reyes, others

The Sandiganbayan Special Third Division postponed Friday the issuance of verdict on 15 counts of graft charges against former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief-of-staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, businesswoman Janet Napoles, and others over the misuse of his P172-million pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Lawyer Dennis Pulma, clerk of court for the Sandiganbayan Third Division, made the announcement in behalf of the anti-graft court justices.

"The promulgation set for today is reset to October 24, 2025," Pulma said.

A Sandiganbayan Special Division is formed if the mother Sandiganbayan Division, in this case the Sandiganbayan Third Division, failed to reach a unanimous decision on the subject case.

The decision is pending review of a reflection on the case submitted by one of the Sandigabayan Special Special Third Division justices.

"This morning, I was informed by the chairperson, and with the authority of the Presiding Justice, that there was a reflection submitted by one of the members of the Special Third Division on this case. As such, it is proper to defer the promulgation as the reflection will require further deliberation," Pulma said.

The 101-year-old Enrile and Napoles attended the scheduled promulgation online, while Reyes and the rest of the accused were present.

Back in November 2023, Reyes testified that while Enrile signed a March 2012 letter to the Commission on Audit (COA), wherein he confirmed that the signatures in the endorsement letters of Napoles-run non-government organizations were that of her and Enrile's deputy chief-of-staff Jose Antonio Evangelista, the former Senate president's confirmation did not go through her.

"He (Enrile) signed the letter in March 2012 addressed to COA... he supposedly said he was confirming the signatures of his staff members, mainly myself and DCOS Deputy Chief-of-Staff Jose Antonio Evangelista," Reyes said.

"I raised the issue, very respectfully, to my former boss, because I said, 'Boss, how can you be the one to authenticate our signatures? I haven't seen it,'" Reyes added.

According to Reyes, Enrile could not recall signing the 2012 confirmation letter sent to COA.

"The former SP (Senate President) did not even remember when he signed that. He was upset with the deputy chief-of-staff, and he (Evangelista) was very apologetic and said, 'I thought I was doing the right thing because the COA is pressing for a reply. I could not approach you because you were busy,'" Reyes said.

Over a year ago, the prosecution panel submitted a copy of Enrile's letter dated September 17, 2008 requesting then Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. to release his PDAF to implementing agencies owned by Napoles as evidence. 

Prosecution witness and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) official Marissa Santos, chief administrative officer of the DBM Records Division, also testified before the Sandiganbayan that then-senator Enrile issued request letters for the release of his PDAF to non-government entities linked to Napoles. 

Santos' testimony included Enrile's request for Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) which releases the PDAF disbursement to implementing agencies, Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) which certifies the availability of funds, advice to NCA, and other supporting documents pertaining to then senator's PDAF. 

Also in March 2023, Pablo Malla, who was a municipal agricultural officer (MAO) of Natividad, Pangasinan from 2007 to 2009, and a municipal agriculturist of the same municipality from 2009 until his retirement in June 2020, testified before the Sandiganbayan that Natividad did not receive agricultural packages and kits named in the graft raps involving Enrile's pork barrel or discretionary fund from years 2008 to 2009.

Aside from Malla, municipal agriculturists Ester Solamo of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental and Margarita Guinomma of San Juan, La Union testified that their areas did not receive the agricultural packages and livelihood projects identified in the 15 graft charges filed against Enrile, Reyes, Napoles among others.

Former COA assistant commissioner Susan Garcia also told the anti-graft court that Enrile's office submitted confirmation documents stating that it received items purchased by the Napoles-run non-government organizations it endorsed for government projects funded by his PDAF or discretionary fund. — VDV, GMA Integrated News