Sandigan summons JPE, Janet, Gigi for pre-trial of plunder case

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes and Janet Lim-Napoles are expected to see each other during the pre-trial hearing on the plunder cases against them at the Sandiganbayan today.

Justices of the Third Division handling their cases directed their custodians yesterday to bring them before the court at 8:30 a.m. 

The produce order for Enrile was addressed to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The 91-year old lawmaker is under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame.

The order for Reyes was sent to the warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) female dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.  

The Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong was ordered to bring Napoles to the Sandiganbayan. 

The  pre-trial conference is the last step before trial. 

Of the three, only Napoles is asking for bail. She has been attending bail hearings. Enrile claims he is entitled to temporary liberty and has brought the issue before the Supreme Court when the anti-graft court denied his motion for bail.

The plunder trial against the three was delayed because of the long preliminary conference process of pre-marking documentary evidence and pre-listing of witnesses. 

The bail hearings of Napoles are expected to continue even after actual trial begins, with Ruby Tuason and other witnesses continuing their testimonies.