September 13, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has deferred the promulgation of judgment on the 15 counts of graft in opposition to former senator now presidential authorized counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of workers Jessica Lucila Reyes and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, saying that the choice requires “additional deliberation.”
Studying a ready assertion throughout the scheduled promulgation of judgment yesterday morning, lawyer Dennis Pulma, the clerk of courtroom of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, mentioned one of many members of the Particular Third Division, which is dealing with the circumstances, not too long ago submitted a “reflection” paper.
Pulma mentioned that with the approval of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairperson Geraldine Religion Econg, the courtroom opted to defer handing out its judgment till after deliberating on the reflection of one in all its members.
The promulgation of judgment was reset to Oct. 24.
Enrile and Napoles each attended yesterday’s proceedings by way of on-line video convention whereas Reyes personally appeared earlier than the courtroom.
The Particular Third Division had earlier acquitted Enrile, Reyes and Napoles of plunder, citing the weak spot of proof of the Workplace of the Ombudsman’s prosecution panel.
The courtroom, nevertheless, pushed by way of with the trial of 15 counts of violation of Part 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in opposition to them.
Filed by the ombudsman in 2014, the plunder and graft circumstances stemmed from Enrile’s alleged receipt, by way of Reyes, of a complete of P172.83 million in commissions or kickbacks from Napoles in alternate for the allocation of his Precedence Growth Help Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to the latter’s bogus non-government organizations, throughout his time period as senator from 2004 to 2010.
Enrile was granted bail by the Supreme Court docket in 2015 for “humanitarian consideration,” citing his frail well being situation and previous age.
Reyes, in the meantime, was launched from the Taguig Metropolis Jail Feminine Dormitory in January 2023 after almost 9 years in detention.
Napoles, alternatively, stays detained on the Correctional Establishment for Girls in Mandaluyong Metropolis following her conviction of plunder in December 2018 in reference to the misuse of P517 million in PDAF of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Enrile was among the many three then senators charged throughout the presidency of Benigno Aquino III in reference to the multibillion-peso pork barrel rip-off.
The Sandiganbayan had earlier acquitted Revilla and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada of their respective plunder circumstances in reference to the rip-off.
Revilla was additionally acquitted of 16 counts of graft. The 11 counts of graft in opposition to Estrada stay pending on the Particular Fifth Division.