Sandiganbayan denies motion of Enrile to dismiss plunder case

February 1, 2017

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has denied a motion to quash of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to junk his plunder case.

“In sum, the Court finds that the Information sufficiently alleges the ultimate facts constituting the crime of plunder. Thus, accused Enrile’s motion to dismiss/quash deserves denial,” the ruling issued Tuesday said.

Enrile, out on bail for humanitarian reasons, is facing plunder and multiple counts of graft after being accused of pocketing P172 million from alleged commissions and kickbacks in the purported multi billion-peso pork barrel scam.

His other co-accused, former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr, remain in jail at the Philippine National Police.

Last September 21, Enrile filed a motion to dismiss the information citing the prosecution’s lack of evidence.

“There is no allegation or evidence of any act committed by the accused Enrile that may link him as a conspirator in committing plunder,” said Enrile’s motion.

The prosecution said the accused cannot judge the merits of the evidence that they have yet to present before the anti-graft court division.

“Accused Enrile cannot claim that there is no evidence of his participation in the so-called PDAF scam at this stage of the proceedings when the prosecution has not yet presented all of its evidence,” the prosecution said.  DMS