Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Juan Ponce Enrile arrived early at the Sandiganbayan on Friday (July 31). It’s been about 10 months since the 91-year-old lawmaker was seen in public.
Detained at the PNP General Hospital for more than a year now, Enrile said he’s been keeping himself busy.
Enrile and his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes attended a pre-trial conference for their plunder case over an alleged pork barrel scam.
Though lists of evidence and witnesses should have been finalized before the trial proper, the conference was deferred because both the prosecution and defense have yet to finish pre-marking evidence.
Since mid-August last year, state prosecutors have been marking evidence before the division clerk of court, while Enrile’s lawyers have yet to begin marking their evidence.
Enrile’s lawyer Joseph Sagandoy blamed the prosecution for the delay, he said they are unable to identify and pre-mark evidence because of unclear charges against the senator.
Enrile has a petition before the Supreme Court asking the Ombudsman to give a detailed list of charges.
Sandiganbayan Third Division justices have expressed frustration over the slow case.
The court agreed to reschedule the pre-trial conference, but the justices were firm in their position to expedite the resolution.
