MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Gigi Reyes, former chief of staff and co-accused of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in the plunder and graft cases, refused to enter a plea during her arraignment on Friday before the Sandiganbayan.
The court then entered a "not guilty" plea for her.
The reading of the criminal charges against Reyes in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam pushed through after all legal impediments have been cleared by the anti-graft court.
Reyes surrendered before the Sandiganbayan's 3rd Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, after the tribunal found sufficient grounds to try the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Her former boss, Enrile and businesswoman Janet Napoles, the alleged brain behind the money-making racket in involving the priority development funds of legislators, had been arraigned for the same charges.
The senator, 90, refused to enter any plea before the court while Napoles pleaded not guilty to the plunder charge.
Reyes's arraignment was delayed after she experienced anxiety attack when she was brought to the female dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Her attending doctor at the Taguig Pateros District Hospital diagnosed her as having mixed anxiety disorder.
Her physician,during a court proceeding, testified that Reyes has also suicidal tendencies based on her psychological profile.
Reyes is now detained in isolation inside a makeshift holding facility at the ground floor of a building inside Camp Bagong Diwa where high profile inmates are being held.