Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761275764407cropped-Screen Shot 2025-10-24 at 11.11.04 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile during the sectoral meeting at the Malacañang Palace on Feb. 13, 2024. KJ Rosales, PPA Pool  </span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted former senator and current Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles of 15 counts of graft over their alleged involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.</p><p>In a unanimous decision, the Sandiganbayan Special Third Division said the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt that Enrile conspired with Reyes and Napoles to amass P172.83 million in kickbacks from his PDAF. </p><p>It added that there was “no civil liability imposed upon Enrile,” who attended the promulgation via Zoom conference.</p><p>However, the court held Napoles civilly liable, requiring her to return millions of pesos to the Bureau of Treasury.</p><p>Upon hearing the verdict, Reyes broke into tears and said she was “thankful.”</p><p>The three were previously <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/5/sandiganbayan-upholds-acquittal-of-enrile-napoles-reyes-of-plunder-1233">acquitted of plunder</a> after the prosecution panel also found the evidence presented by the Office of the Ombudsman insufficient.</p><p>Last September, the anti-graft court <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/sandiganbayan-defers-promulgation-for-enrile-reyes-napoles-graft-case-1013">postponed</a> the promulgation of judgment after a member of the Sandiganbayan Special Third Division submitted a reflection that called for “further deliberation.”</p><p>Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed the graft and plunder charges in 2014, accusing Enrile of receiving P172.83 million in kickbacks through Reyes from Napoles in exchange for funneling his PDAF allocations to her nonexistent non-government organizations from 2004 to 2010.</p><p>In 2015, the Supreme Court granted Enrile bail on humanitarian grounds, citing his <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/14/enrile-celebrates-101st-birthday-1619">old age</a> and health condition.</p><p>Enrile was among three senators indicted during the Benigno Aquino III administration for alleged involvement in the massive pork barrel fund scam, together with Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, who were also acquitted of their plunder charges.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/-sino-ba-pinapatamaan-mo-jinggoy-kiko-spar-over-linking-pdaf-scam-to-flood-control-scandal-1810">&#x27;Sino ba pinapatamaan mo?&#x27;: Estrada calls out Pangilinan&#x27;s &#x27;pork scam&#x27; remark at flood control probe</a></div><p>Revilla was also cleared of 16 graft charges.</p><p>Estrada still faces 11 unresolved graft cases pending before the Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division, after the anti-graft court junked his bid to dismiss.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/2/sandigabayan-junks-estrada-plea-in-pdaf-graft-case-1527">Sandigabayan junks Estrada motion for reconsideration in PDAF graft case</a></div><p>Napoles, who attended the promulgation via online conference, remained incarcerated at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City following her December 2018 conviction for plunder in relation to P517 million in PDAF funds allocated to Revilla, who was later acquitted in 2018.</p><p>Meanwhile, Reyes was released in January 2023 after almost a decade of detention at the Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory.</p><div> </div><div><strong>OTHERS CONVICTED </strong></div><p>In a separate case, the court upheld a guilty verdict against National Livelihood and Development Council (NLDC) President Gondelina Amata of 4 counts of malversation and 1 count of graft over alleged misuse of PDAF funds.</p><p>Napoles’ cousin Benhur Luy previously said some NGOs linked to the businesswoman received money from the NLDC.</p><p>Amata’s co-accused were Napoles and Michael Benjamin, who was former Senator Gregorio Honasan’s political affairs chief.</p><p>Meanwhile, Honasan’s own graft case, linked to the alleged misuse of around P30 million in PDAF funds was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan in 2021 due to “weak evidence presented by the prosecution.”</p><p>In 2017, the anti-graft court ordered the arrest of Benjamin and Honasan, who denied the charges against him.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PALACE RESPECTS COURT DECISION </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Malacañang said it respects the acquittal of Enrile, Reyes, and Napoles.</p><p>“Nagsalita na ang korte so igalang po natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing.</p><p>Castro said that this was why Marcos gave authorities the leeway to conduct thorough investigations instead of fast-tracking the process in holding corrupt officials accountable.</p><p>“Ang Pangulo na ang gusto niya kapag nagsampa ng kaso hindi mabilisan, dapat kumpleto ang ebidensya dahil pag nagkataon, kaunti lang na pagkakamali — especially criminal case ito — any doubt, kapag hindi nagkaroon ng judgement beyond reasonable doubt, talaga pong magkakaroon ng acquittal,” she said.</p><p>When pressed if the Palace was not pushing back against the anti-graft court’s decision due to Enrile’s current position as Marcos’ legal adviser, Castro said, “May separation of powers at kailangan igalang.”</p><p>“Kapag hindi po natin ginalang ang mga desisyon ng mga korte, magiging chaotic country po tayo,” she said.</p><p>“Dapat natin pagtiwalaan ang ating justice system.”</p>

<p>The Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of graft in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.</p>

The Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of graft in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Sandiganbayan acquits Enrile, Reyes, Napoles in PDAF graft cases

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Sandiganbayan acquits Enrile, Reyes, Napoles in PDAF graft cases

Kaxandra Salonga,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 24, 2025 10:19 AM PHT

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Updated October 24, 2025 05:27 PM PHT

Read More:

Enrile

JPE

Juan Ponce Enrile

graft

PDAF

pork barrel

Janet Lim Napoles

Gigi Reyes

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