Sandigan defers JPE pre-trial for graft

The Sandiganbayan yesterday deferred anew former senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s pre-trial for graft in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Third Division reset the pre-trial to June 26 next year.

Ombudsman prosecutors asked for an extension since they have yet to complete the pre-marking of evidence against Enrile and his coaccused.

Government lawyers said they have 19 more folders of documents to identify and mark during preliminary conferences scheduled thrice a week.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft charges against Enrile along with former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada in June 2014.

Delays in the trial were attributed to the failure of the prosecution and defense panels to finish the pre-marking of evidence.

Enrile was held under hospital arrest after his indictment but was freed on bail after the Supreme Court granted his request for temporary liberty while undergoing trial for plunder.

Revilla and Estrada are still detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The Sandiganbayan has denied their petitions for bail.

Enrile, Revilla, Estrada and a handful of other former and incumbent lawmakers have been indicted for plunder, graft and malversation for allegedly receiving kickbacks or commissions from questionable non-government organizations linked to Janet Lim-Napoles, who was tagged as the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam.

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