Miriam wants Senate ‘pork’ probe to continue for Gigi Reyes testimony

 News
Apr 202014
 
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to continue its probe on the alleged pork barrel scam to hear the testimony of Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, former chief of staff of Senate now Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.

In a letter, Santiago asked Senate blue ribbon chairman Teofisto Guingona III to invite or even summon Reyes, who returned to the Philippines from the United States last Saturday. 

Santiago added that the Senate committee can still continue its probe on the alleged anomaly, although Guingona already released a draft panel report recommending plunder charges against certain personalities, including Enrile and Reyes, earlier this month. 

“I believe that the testimony of Atty. Reyes would serve to round off and clarify certain aspects of the partial report, and that the committee findings could be the proper subject of an addendum or similar subsequent report on Atty. Reyes’s testimony,” Santiago said in her letter.

GMA News Online sent a text message to Guingona to ask for his reaction to Santiago’s letter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Last April 1, the Office of the Ombudsman also recommended plunder charges against Enrile and Reyes for allegedly pocketing pork barrel funds from a scam supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Reyes is being accused of receiving pork barrel kickbacks for Enrile, and signing documents for the release of these discretionary funds on the senators’ behalf. She has denied these accusations in documents submitted to the Ombudsman.

Also being implicated in the alleged anomaly are Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, and several former members of the House of Representatives and heads of implementing agencies which supposedly served as conduits to funnel public funds to Napoles-linked foundations.

Santiago, Enrile’s staunch critic, earlier urged Reyes to “turn the tables” on her former boss by applying as state witness. 

Last month, Enrile’s wife, Cristina, confirmed that Reyes had an affair with her husband — an information that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said could bolster the case against the senator. Enrile denied his wife’s statements. 

In January last year, Reyes resigned as Enrile’s chief of staff amid accusations she had personally wielded power over Senate matters on behalf of Enrile, who was then the Senate President. — RSJ, GMA News

Jinggoy to appeal Ombudsman’s decision on plunder raps over ‘pork’ scam

 Entertainment
Apr 072014
 
Jinggoy to appeal Ombudsman’s decision on plunder raps over ‘pork’ scam

Senator Jinggoy Estrada shows some documents during his privilege speech on the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) issue at the Senate on Wednesday (March 12, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Although he called the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigation as “moro-moro,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said he will appeal the decision to file plunder charges against him over the alleged pork barrel scam. Estrada said his camp will file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday next week, although he is pessimistic about this move. “Maghahain na po kami sa darating na Lunes sapagkat natanggap na po ng aking abogado ang joint resolution na nanggaling po sa Ombudsman. Siyempre ine-expect ko na ibabasura nila iyon. Pero siyempre, we will exert all legal remedies,” the senator said. On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it has decided to charge Senators Estrada, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile with plunder over the pork barrel scam. The three senators are being accused of pocketing the kickbacks from the alleged scam, supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. They have earlier denied these allegations. Estrada added that even before the recommendations were made, he did not fully trust the Ombudsman’s deliberations on the plunder charge. “Alam naman namin na moro-moro na lang iyan. Kaya ito na nga ang nangyari. Mukha talagang [minadali] ang kaso laban sa amin. It took them only six months to read voluminous documents,” he said. Revilla’s camp had also earlier Read More …

De Lima hopes Napoles appearance in Senate won’t affect plunder complaint

 Entertainment
Oct 222013
 
De Lima hopes Napoles appearance in Senate won’t affect plunder complaint

Blue Ribbon Committee chair, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima reconcile after Guingona earlier admits being “disappointed” for not bringing whistle blowers during the pork barrel scam probe at the Senate on Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2013). Both parties shake hands after. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday expressed hope that the appearance of Janet Lim-Napoles will not have any adverse effect on the plunder complaints the controversial businesswoman is facing before the Office of the Ombudsman. “Sana nga anything that is done or that will transpire or happen in that proceeding na andyan si Mrs. Napoles ay hindi makakaapekto sa Ombudsman cases. Hindi makaapekto sa aming complainants at sa takbo ng kaso,” De Lima told reporters, adding that it will all depend on what Napoles discloses in the probe. But she believed that Napoles would just invoke her rights during the hearing being conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee. “Depende kung me sasabihin siya kasi very possible na mag-iinvoke lang siya ng mga rights like right to remain silent, right against self incrimination. I wouldn’t really know, depende yan kung ano ang kalalabasan,” De Lima said. During a privilege speech Wednesday, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he has signed the subpoena requiring Napoles to attend the Senate probe on the alleged pork barrel scam. The move preempted a Senate caucus where senators are supposed to decide on whether or not to summon Napoles to the investigation. For her part, Read More …

Drilon: Senators can still report for work even while facing plunder raps

 News
Sep 162013
 
Drilon: Senators can still report for work even while facing plunder raps

Senators can still report for work and will not be automatically suspended even with a plunder complaint filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Monday. “They are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Remember, they are elected representatives,” Drilon said at a press briefing.  The Senate leader made this statement after the National Bureau of Investigation confrmed that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. will be charged with plunder in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. —KG, GMA News

Jinggoy willing to be half-brother JV's adviser in Senate

 News
Jun 062013
 
Jinggoy willing to be half-brother JV's adviser in Senate

Despite a perceived rift between him and his half-brother, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is willing to act as San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito’s adviser when the congressman assumes his Senate post in July. “If he seeks advice, then okay. If he does not, I cannot do anything,” Estrada said at a press briefing Thursday. Estrada quipped that he is willing to play the part of the elder brother because Ejercito, who won in the recently concluded elections, might lose his way in the Senate. “If he seeks guidance, as an elder brother and senior member of the Senate, I will support or even guide him. Baka mawala eh,” he said in jest. Estrada is the son of former President and Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada with former senator Loi Estrada, while Ejercito is the former president’s son with incumbent San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez. Last November, the younger Estrada publicly expressed disappointment over Ejercito’s reported statement that their sibling rivalry may soon reach the Senate. Ejercito also supposedly refused to shoot a television advertisement with Estrada during the campaign period—an incident downplayed by their father. Ejercito, for his part, said he will welcome any guidance from his elder brother. “As an incoming neophyte senator, his experience and advise will be of great help,” he said in a statement. Ejercito, however, refuted the senator’s statement that he might get lost in the Senate. — KBK, GMA News