Malacañang has called on the public to respect the Sandiganbayan’s decision to acquit former Senate President and current Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile of his remaining graft charges related to the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), commonly known as the pork barrel.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized the importance of upholding the separation of powers among government branches. She stated, “Nagsalita na ang korte, so, igalang natin. Igalang po natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte,” which translates to “The court has spoken, so let us respect it.” Castro further explained that the Palace has no role in influencing court decisions and that respecting judicial rulings is essential to avoid chaos and maintain trust in the justice system.
The Sandiganbayan cleared Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles of 15 counts of graft, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case involved the alleged funneling of Enrile’s PDAF to fake non-governmental organizations operated by Napoles.
This acquittal follows Enrile’s earlier dismissal of plunder charges in October 2024, where prosecutors also failed to establish that he received at least P50 million in kickbacks.