DOJ to probe Miriam’s allegations vs Enrile on CEZA funds

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will look into the allegations of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile had used dummies in corporations involved in the disbursement of over P5 billion in public funds infused into the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she has referred the matter to the special task force chaired by Undersecretary Jose Justiniano tasked to probe Santiago’s charges against the former Senate president.

“Necessarily it can be part of the investigation of the special task force,” De Lima told reporters in an ambush interview yesterday.

In her letter-request, Santiago asked the DOJ to probe Enrile for allegedly using a female executive as front for his construction project at the Pagcor Entertainment City and other big-ticket infrastructure projects.

The justice chief created the special task force last December in response to the earlier request of Santiago.

It was tasked to investigate the alleged involvement of Enrile in illegal gambling, illegal logging and illegal importation in Cagayan Freeport.

De Lima also ordered the task force to look into Enrile’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth and “other related acts constituting criminal offenses under existing criminal statures.”

“I am waiting for an update from the task force. I know that they have met several times already and distributed assignments,” she said.

Other members of the task force are Assistant State Prosecutors Niven Canlapan and Nolibien Quiambao; state lawyer Adonis Sulit and Charles Romulus Cambaliza, and anti-graft agents Jonathan Mengullo and Catherine Camposano from the National Bureau of Investigation.

Gigi’s family not in CEZA deal

Enrile’s former chief of staff, lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and her family had nothing to do with the breakwater project in Port Irene.

Reyes, her mother and brother are not directors of Sta. Elena Builders.

They are also not connected to Sta. Ana Builders.

Her brother and mother are chairman and member of the board of directors of Sta. Fe Builders, respectively, not of Sta. Elena Builders as STAR erroneously reported.