Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Atty. Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, former chief of staff of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, is asking the Sandiganbayan to stop hearing her corruption cases related to the pork barrel scam.
In her urgent motion to suspend proceedings filed Tuesday (January 5), Reyes argued that the Sandiganbayan should not proceed with the trial— at least until the Supreme Court (SC) rules on her petition to have the cases against her dismissed.
Also read: Trial proper of plunder case versus Reyes, Napoles to start January 2016
Reyes filed a petition for certiorari before the high court in September 2014 seeking to reverse the finding of probable cause against her.
She argued that the Ombudsman during its preliminary investigation violated her rights because it heavily relied on the statements of Ruby Tuason in finding probable cause against her.
Reyes also pointed out, the Sandiganbayan is also liable as it affirmed the findings of the Ombudsman.
Since the petition has been pending for resolution before the high court since January last year, Reyes is expecting the tribunal to “issue its decision shortly”.
Reyes claimed she was not given copies of the supposed statements despite repeated requests, which prevented her from answering Tuason’s allegations.
Tuason claimed she introduced alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to her politician friends, then later acted as a middleman or bagman for the delivery of kickbacks.
The trial of Reyes for her plunder case is scheduled to begin before the Sandiganbayan Third Division next Wednesday (January 13).
Now a state witness, Tuason will be presented as the prosecution’s first witness in the trial of Reyes.
Reyes’ plea to have her trial suspended is set for hearing before the Sandiganbayan on Friday morning (January 8).
