Palace: Bail grant for Enrile won't affect fight vs corruption

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing detained Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to post bail won't affect the government's anti-corruption drive, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government remains undeterred in fighting corruption even if Enrile, one of those detained in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, has the chance to walk as a free man again, albeit temporarily.

"Government is determined to pursue its anti-corruption campaign in a sustained manner. This steadfast commitment is not dependent on the outcome of any particular case," Coloma said in a note to media.

Coloma said the Palace is leaving it up to the Office of the Ombudsman to undertake the necessary action on the high court's bail grant for Enrile.

The SC allowed the 91-year-old senator to post bail subject to the terms and conditions to be specified by the high court.

Those who voted against Enrile's bail grant were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen.

Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza inhibited himself from the case as he was the former solicitor general.

In his bail petition, Enrile asked the SC to consider his advanced age and his surrender to authorities last year.

Along with Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., Enrile is facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly pocketing millions of pesos of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The senators were accused of conspiring with businessman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged scam mastermind, in amassing kickbacks from their PDAF that were diverted to her bogus foundations.

Enrile is under hospital arrest at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame.