Manila: The Sandiganbayan Special Third Division has acquitted Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief-of-staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and several others on 15 counts of graft. The charges were related to the alleged misuse of PHP172 million from Enrile's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) between 2007 and 2009.
According to Philippines News Agency, the anti-graft court issued a 192-page decision stating that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not meet the standard of moral certainty required to overturn the constitutional presumption of innocence.
The decision further clarified that while the actions of the accused public officers may not align with the ideal standards of public service, not every irregular act or conduct constitutes a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The court highlighted the lack of concrete and credible proof that the accused received cash intended as kickbacks, rebates, or commissions, which is necessary to establish a violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019.
In addition to Enrile, Reyes, and Napoles, the acquittal extends to Enrile's former deputy chief of staff Jose Antonio Valera Evangelista II, former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) undersecretary for operations Mario Loquellano Relampagos, and DBM employees Rosario Salamida Nunez, Lalaine Narag Paule, and Marilou Dialino Bare. Former Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general Dennis Lacson Cunanan, TRC officials Francisco Baldoza Figura, Maria Rosalinda Masongsong Lacsamana, and Marivic Villaluz Jover, along with private individuals Jo Christine Lim Napoles, James Christopher Lim Napoles, Evelyn Ditchon De Leon, Nitz Tuangco Cabilao, and Mylene Tagayon Encarnacion, were also acquitted of the graft charges.
