Another day for Gigi at Sandigan cell

MANILA, Philippines - Jessica “Gigi” Reyes is spending another day today in the newly refurbished cell at the basement of the Sandiganbayan building in Quezon City while waiting for the commitment order to be issued by the anti-graft court for her transfer to another detention facility.

The Sandiganbayan is expected to issue the commitment order tomorrow.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Reyes, both accused in the plunder case in connection with the pork barrel fund scam, surrendered last Friday following the issuance of warrants for their arrest by the Sandiganbayan.

Albert dela Cruz, head of the sheriff and security services of the Sandiganbayan, told The STAR yesterday that the anti-graft court’s detention cell has a floor area of five meters by four meters.

At the moment, Reyes is the only detainee in the facility that can hold more than one person.

Dela Cruz said the room has space for two beds and has its own toilet and an electric fan. There is a separate room for male detainees.

He said Reyes has been brought food by visitors, including her siblings and lawyers, who stayed with her since she turned herself in to authorities.

He said the food was checked by court security staff before these were brought in.

Dela Cruz said Reyes had been examined by the court’s nurse on Friday and also by a physician regarding her medical condition.

He said the former chief of staff of Enrile was found to be in good health.

The court wanted to detain Reyes at a facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology but the Sandiganbayan is requiring the BJMP to comment on its capacity to hold the plunder suspect.

High-risk detainee

Meanwhile, the warden of the Quezon City Female Dormitory told The STAR yesterday that the jail is not equipped to hold a “high-risk” detainee like Reyes.

Chief Inspector Elena Rocamora said the female dormitory is an “ordinary jail.” Though it is a facility of the BJMP, the female dormitory is located inside Camp Karingal, the headquarters of the Quezon City Police District.

It normally holds female suspects in cases heard by Quezon City courts.

The Sandiganbayan, which is hearing the plunder cases in connection with the pork barrel fund scam, has ordered the Quezon City Jail to report on whether it is equipped to detain Reyes.

But the Quezon City Jail, which is located along EDSA in Kamuning, holds only male detainees, leaving the female dormitory inside Camp Karingal as an option where Reyes can be detained.

However, Rocamora said the grills at the female dormitory in Quezon City are not designed for high-profile detainees.