Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Sandiganbayan on Monday issued warrants of arrest versus Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and 25 others in connection with their multiple graft cases filed over Enrile’s alleged misuse of his pork barrel.
The arrest warrants for graft came two days after Enrile and four others were ordered arrested for plunder.
“There are 49 individuals accused in 15 counts of plunder. Of these, 37 were determined to have probable cause. [Meanwhile] 11 have voluntarily surrendered and posted bail. All in all, 26 warrants were issued, dated Friday and processed Saturday,” Third Division clerk of court Atty. Dennis Pulma said in an interview.
Enrile is currently detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, after being admitted for eye problems.
Meanwhile, his former chief-of-staff Atty. Gigi Reyes is temporarily detained at the Sandiganbayan’s basement detention facility.
Janet Lim Napoles, alleged mastermind of the scam, is detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, over a serious illegal detention case involving the scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Pulma explained that the warrants for graft were released later than those for plunder due to the anti-graft court’s limited resources.
“The problem is difficulty in resources. Sinama na rin kasi ‘yung minute resolution finding probable cause. Marami yun,” Pulma said. (MNS)