Gigi Reyes' return helps afford her due process  – Palace exec

A Malacañang official on Saturday said the return from the US of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s former chief of staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes helps afford her “due process.”

“[Her return] will afford her the opportunity for the full application of her right to due process,” Malacañang spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Reyes, a key personality in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam and one of several people charged with plunder because of it, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 via PR-105 from San Francisco, GMA News reported.

“I’m facing the charges. I’ve always faced it,” Reyes quoted as saying upon her arrival.

On April 7, Reyes’ representatives asked the Office of the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision to file plunder charges against her over the alleged P10-billion por barrel scam.

Reyes claimed her constitutional right to due process was violated, and denied receiving any commission from Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly known as pork barrel.

Last April 1, 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, with plunder.

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

Meanwhile, Enrile’s camp declined to comment on Reyes’ return.

Commenting on the Reyes’ return, Senator Grace Poe on Saturday said, “Our countrymen clamor for the truth and expect its unsullied exposition in pursuit of the nation’s highest interest.”

“Together we should encourage and support those who will champion the truth and those who will favor the public good,” she added, in a post on her Twitter account. — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News