Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) — The Sandiganbayan Third Division has questioned the continued absence of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles which has been causing the delay in the graft trial of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Enrile’s hearing was put on hold once again on Tuesday after Napoles did not show up in court due to alleged health problems, according to authorities from the Correctional Institution for Women, where Napoles is detained.
Napoles, who was convicted for plunder for her involvement in the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, was ordered to appear before the anti-graft court on Wednesday and sign the pre-trial order so the litigation can proceed.
Earlier in the day, the court staff told CNN Philippines that some of Enrile’s co-accused have not yet signed the pre-trial order for Enrile’s graft cases, including Napoles, who was supposed to sign the document last week of January.
A pre-trial order contains details about the evidence, as well as the witnesses that will be presented by prosecutor and defense. It also lists issues and facts that will be tackled throughout the trial. Both parties need to agree on these, and sign the document before a trial can begin.
Enrile is facing a plunder charge and 15 counts of graft for allegedly diverting his pork barrel to bogus non-government organizations of Napoles in exchange for kickbacks worth ₱172.8 million.
Enrile’s cases were filed in June 2014, along with those filed against Sen. Bong Revilla and former senator Jinggoy Estrada. But his trial had long been delayed because of an issue on the supposed vagueness of the allegations against him.
CNN Philippines Correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
