Aquino admin won't force Gigi Reyes to speak out - Palace

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration will not pressure Atty. Jessica "Gigi" Reyes to reveal all her knowledge on the pork barrel scam and the alleged involvement of her former boss, Malacañang said on Monday.

While lawmakers have urged Reyes to tell everything that she knows, Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said they will not influence the embattled lawyer to execute her affidavit to pin down those tagged in the alleged embezzling of some P10 billion worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

"Hihintayin natin na umiral ang mga kinauukulang proseso ng batas hinggil diyan. Wala tayong proyekto na pasalitain siya o anyayahan siyang gumawa ng anong bagay na hindi naman nanggagaling sa kanyang sariling inisyatiba," Coloma said at a televised press briefing.

Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, returned to the country over the weekend, eight months after she reportedly fled when she was linked to the PDAF scam.

Reyes is among the over 30 individuals indicted on plunder and graft charges last April 1 for reportedly signing documents related to the release of Enrile's PDAF to fake non-government organizations of suspected scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Coloma denied that the Aquino administration also convinced Reyes to return home. He said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has made no contact with her.

The Palace official earlier told state-run dzRB that it is leaving it up to the DOJ to determine whether Reyes can qualify as state witness, which was suggested by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Read: Tell all, Gigi urged

He said the Aquino administration only wants to seek justice in connection with the pork barrel scam.

"All government officials and employees named in the resolution issued by the Ombudsman in PDAF-related cases, including attorney Reyes, are accountable for their actions, and are expected to fully disclose what they know," Coloma said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero told radio dzRH that they, in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, are ready to hear the possible testimony of Reyes.

But Escudero also said that they will not also force Reyes to speak out if she does not intend to.

"Hindi po para sa amin siguro na buksan muli yan at pilitin sya kung wala naman syang balak magsalita o gusto nyang sagutin na lamang ang mga paratang sa korte. Karapatan nya po yun na magdesisyon kung saan nya gustong magbigay ng panig," Escudero said.