Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Enrile’s own words contradict his pork defense

Share:
LinkedIn0
Pinterest0

Exclusive by Raïssa Robles

Veteran lawyer Estelito Mendoza has a simple argument for getting his client, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, off the hook in his pork barrel theft case.

Mendoza told the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan last Friday that not one of the whistle-blowers ever witnessed Enrile accepting any kickback coming from Janet Lim Napoles.

Not one.

Not Benhur Luy. Not Ruby Tuazon. Not Merlina Sunas. And not even Janet Lim Napoles.

The only possible witness who could pin Erile to the deed has refused to come forward. Enrile’s girl friday – Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes – has not turned state witness. And probably never will.

It must be a demonstration of that old saying: either they hang together or they hang separately.

Mendoza argued in court on June 20:

“Enrile’s role is merely to recommend the projects to be funded under the PDAF appropriation. It is the Executive Department, through various implementing agencies, together with their partner-organizations, that should be held accountable for the PDAF’s use, and the implementation of projects funded by the PDAF, including the liquidation of the PDAF used for the projects.”

Mendoza also said:

“The evidence shows that Enrile was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it.”

A week before that, Enrile had filed a 53-page “urgent omnibus motion” to dismiss the case because there was no evidence to link him to to theft of pork barrel funds.

He also argued that his role in PDAF was “merely to recommend the projects to be funded under the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) appropriation.”

In short, Mendoza (a former colleague of Enrile in the cabinet of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos) argued that Enrile didn’t really pay attention to how his pork barrel was used, that he just made general recommendations and nobody could say otherwise – there are no witnesses.

This is what sets Enrile’s case apart from that of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla. There are eyewitnesses to pin both down. There are none against Enrile.

None – except Enrile himself.

You see, Enrile in his memoirs published in 2012 discusses how he used his pork barrel, which used to be called the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) and which is now called the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.

But first, let’s review what Enrile and his lawyer Mendoza have said on why Enrile should not be held accountable for the fact that tax money ended up in the pockets of Janet Lim Napoles and certain government officials.

First, Enrile “merely” recommends projects. Such a statement would imply that Enrile has little say on whether a project funded with his PDAF pushes through or not.

Second, the only ones accountable for the use of PDAF and the project implementation (as a result of PDAF use) is the Executive branch of government “through various implementing agencies, together with their partner-organizations” (like the fake NGOs of Janet Lim Napoles.

This means, Enrile is conceding his PDAF was stolen. But he is asserting he has nothing at all to do with the theft because he is not responsible or accountable for the use of PDAF and the project implementation.

His role in the entire thing is merely recommendatory – meaning, the executive branch officials can take his recommendation or not. In fact, Mendoza also said,“The evidence shows that Enrile was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it.”

This means, Enrile and his lawyer Mendoza are saying, that he doesn’t have that much say in how his pork is used. The Executive branch of government has the last say.

However, Enrile’s book of memoirs says the exact opposite

On page 680 of Chapter 17 entitled “Lone Oppositionist” – where he narrated his accomplishments as a lawmaker – Enrile talked about his use of pork barrel, then called the Countrywide Development Fund.

Enrile said:

“It was during my term as Representative of the 1st District of Cagayan Province that I crafted the bill that created the Cagayan Special Economi Zone and Freeport. Republic Act No. 7922 was passed into law under the administration of President Ramos. The zone covers the entire town of Sta. Ana and the islands of Fuga, Barit and Mabbag in the Municipality of Aparri, spanning more than 54,000 hectares of land and is being administered by a government corporation known as CEZA -the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.”

“I must give much-deserved credit to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for she and her administration were very supportive of my efforts to help CEZA and she shared my vision of attracting investors to do business in and to develop the special economic zone, especially the improvement of the old and dilapidated port, Port Irene, which was named after President Marcos’ daughter, Irene.”

Notice that he cast Mrs Arroyo only in a supporting role in this project.

Then Enrile narrated his role in developing CEZA through the use of his pork:

“On my part, I had poured much of my countrywide development fund allocations to the road infrastructure needed there. CEZA is now finishing an international airport in the nearby town of Lal-lo so that there could be easier access by air travel to and from the area, instead of just the existing airport in Tuguegarao which is three hours away by land.”

“It had always been my dream to give back something to the place that nurtured me in my early years and to allow them the opportunity to taste the fruits of development. Opening the door for many opportunities for tourism, gaming, industry and other business enterprises in that corner of the archipelago which had heretofore remained backward and undeveloped is a legacy that I wish to leave my people and the people of Region II.”

From this narration, do you get the impression that Enrile’s participation in CEZA was only recommendatory? Or do you get the impression he had played a central role in making sure CEZA had good roads by pouring his pork into “road infrastructure needed there”?

Notice he said “I had poured”. He didn’t merely say “I recommended”.

In this example, Enrile holds himself personally accountable for the improvement of CEZA. This example implies he made sure his pork went to road-building and was not diverted into private pockets. He credited President Arroyo for “being very supportive” and sharing his vision. But he mainly gives himself the credit for its fruition, because as he said, “it had always been my dream to give back something to the place that nurtured me in my early years and to allow them the opportunity to taste the fruits of development.”

The use of the word “allow” is especially telling. Someone who “allows” has the presumption of authority to make the thing happen.

Finally, Enrile called the development of CEZA “a legacy that I wish to leave my people and the people of Region II.”

If his role in pork has always been merely recommendatory as his lawyer told the Sandiganbayan court last Friday, then he cannot credit himself for the development of CEZA and claim CEZA as his legacy.

Because after all, Mendoza had stressed to the court:

“The evidence shows that Enrile was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it.”

Notice that Mendoza used the qualifying adjective “any” which in this case gives the sentence the meaning that ALL pork allocation was NOT entrusted to Enrile. And that would include the pork that went to CEZA.

If what Mendoza said is true, then Enrile has no business claiming personal credit for what his pork does.

Unless, of course, his memoirs are unreliable.

Which is which, Senator Enrile and Atty. Mendoza?

Comments

  1. If we were to believe Senator Enrile’s pronouncement, his only participation in his PDAF is to identify the projects to be funded out of his PDAF allocations – nothing more, he did not receive any kickbacks, he did not receive any benefit in return from his PDAF allocations that can be perceived as an act of graft and corruption.

    One of the biggest beneficiaries of Enrile’s PDAF is the Department of Agriculture. Why the DA? Why not the Department of Education? Or Department of Health? Or the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources?

    I’m not inferring anything but a study on Philippine Agribusiness Initiative conducted by Ernst and Young for USAID/Philippines show how Enrile and his group have become a dominant force in Philippine Agribusiness.

    Some salient points presented in the study are:

    The 50 key agribusiness groups play important roles in the Philippine agribusiness sector and the whole economy. Their combined gross revenues in agribusiness in 1989 totaled at least 99,420 million pesos, or 13.4 percent of the total gross revenues of the top 5,000 corporations, estimated at 742,000 million pesos. Their non-agribusiness activities have been estimated at 79,000 million pesos. Altogether, their total business activities account for at least 24 percent of the gross revenues of the top 5,000 corporations.

    Among the 50 top key agribusiness is the Juan Ponce Enrile group with these major agribusiness companies:

    Pacific Basic Foods
    New Sunripe Dessicated Coconut
    Lucena Dessicated Coconut
    Eurasia Match/Royal Match

    The Report continues:

    “Juan Ponce Enrile, opposition senator and former defense secretary, has extensive business interests in agribusiness. Its flagship is Jaka Investments, Inc. The group owns a match wood plantation in Agusan del Norte which provide raw materials to two match companies: Royal Match and Eurasia Match. Its factory is in Mandaue, Cebu. Eurasia owns a 970 ha plantation in Basilan Island, planted to cacao, coffee, rubber and pepper. It further owns prawn ponds in Nasugbu, Batangas and agricultural lands in Cavite.”

    “The group is a key player in dessicated coconut. It has three plants, namely: New Sunripe Dessicated Coconut Corp, Pacific Basic Foods (Laguna), and Lucena Dessicated Coconut (Quezon). It used to operate a timber concession in Samar (San Jose Timber); but the latter’s license was not renewed in 1990.”

    “The total gross revenues in agribusiness, including match making, were about 800 million in 1989. Non-agribusiness revenues totaled at least 1,000 million pesos.”

    Dessicated Coconut

    Three groups have almost equal market shares in the industry. The Barcelon/Tuason group has 32%; the Enrile group, 28.5%; and Kraft General Foods, 28%. The other key player is the Aboitiz group with about 12%. It was reported that the Mantrade group now owns the Red V plants in Mindanao.

    Cacao Plantations

    Eduardo Cojuangco owns the largest holdings of cacao plantations totaling about 6,450 ha in Visayas and Mindanao. The Benguet-owned Philippine Cocoa Estates Corp (PCEC) has about 2,700 ha in four plantations in Davao City, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental. PCEC runs one of the most modern cacao plantations in the world using high-density, double-hedge row,drip-irrigated technology. Third (unconfirmed) is the Enrile plantation in Basilan estimated at about 1,200 ha.

    Dessicated Coconut exporters

    The key processors described earlier are also the key exporters.
    Enrile Group
    – New Sunripe Cocunut products
    – Pacific Royal Basic Foods
    – Lucena Dessicated Cocunuts

    Considering the above information, shall we believe then that when Senator Enrile assigned his PDAF allocation to the Department of Agriculture, and to other NGOs for that matter, his participation is limited only to identifying the projects to be funded by his PDAF, and nothing else? Shall we believe then that he did not reap any benefits in return for funding from his PDAF?

    And one more thing, eh yung kahoy?

  2. Here is a quote from Senator Enrile’s press release on February 28, 2013:

    ***QOUTE***

    “I utilize my Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or “pork barrel”, with utmost adherence to transparency and accountability.

    Senators do not receive these funds, which are released directly to the implementing offices, such as the Department of Agriculture. Our only participation in the entire process is to identify the projects to be funded out of our PDAF allocation, the localities where they are to be implemented and to indicate the amounts intended for such. These are made under the guidelines issued by the DBM. The DBM sets the limits, the qualified implementing agencies and the type of projects that can be funded through the PDAF.

    In the particular case of the Department of Agriculture, the Senators’ offices are merely asked to indicate our confirmation regarding the intended recipients and beneficiaries of the projects we have identified. We routinely confirm this because it is the DA’s responsibility to ascertain the capability, competence or qualifications of these recipients and to accredit them accordingly.

    The funds in the total amount of P74.69M that I had allocated for agricultural and livelihood projects out of my PDAF in 2008 and 2009 were released to the Department of Agriculture, which in turn, released the money to a GOCC called Zynac Rubber Estate Corporation (ZREC); ZREC then released the funds to the questioned foundation called Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI).

    There is no layering of transactions that would perhaps allow us to personally or financially benefit from them without being found out.”

    ***END-OF-QOUTE***

    The big question now is: Does Senator Enrile have, or have no, personal or financial stake in the agribusiness sector such that it would be believable that his “only participation in the entire process is to identify the projects to be funded out of his PDAF allocation?

    I will try to provide some insights into this question in another post.

  3. Useless, irrelevant, and misleading. There is no contradiction, legal or otherwise.

    No need for a Serafin Cuevas or Estelito Mendoza, or even for a law degree to know the elementary difference between what was written in the book and what was manifested in court, either one being true or not: they are about different PDAF allocations, the ones in the book not being part of the ones that are the subject matter of the plunder charge. Moreover, Enrile can always say that he took exceptional personal interest because it is Cagayan, his home province, as opposed to his other PDAF allocations. Ergo, pull your hair, grit your teeth, splay yourself on the ground and shout to high heavens, its not going to make any difference in the legal proceedings, in the life of any Filipino (including you reading this; except maybe Raissa’s pocketbook because the more bloggers the more ads her blogsite gets), or the course of Philippine history.

    But of course the story (what story?) succeeded in agitating the blog community as Raissa has intended. I’ve long stopped reading Raissa’s bIog. I now rebuke myself for reading the story further (clicked on “READ MORE”) because, again, I got interested in the catchy “contradiction” title of the story at ABSCBN online news. Like most Filipino intellectuals with a strong sense of nationalism and extreme frustration at the political system, I would like to see Enrile, et al., including the Ipis Boys (who else, Dummy: Bong and Jinggoy!) be convicted and rot (or die, as Enrile says) in jail. But in reading further, I immediately realized it is another one of Raissa’s “bombshells” disguised as journalism, but simply meant to incite controversy and stoke the ready anger and frustration of people like you and me who want to do something about it but can’t, all intended to generate lots of “hits” for her blogsite. And so we find ourselves posting futile comments in online news or blogsites such as this self-styled internet Plaza Miranda to vent our angst against the system, to the delight of blogspot-owners like Raissa.

    I’ve stopped doing that after realizing the uselessness of it all, but every now and then I still get ensnared by Raissa’s catchy story titles purposely intended to pique the interest. Kayong mga blog kutos and trolls, find yourselves something better to do!

    What a waste of time!

        • We don’t waste time – we express our views on the current burning issues like your senatongs friends’ plunder and graft cases.

          No other blog sites offer this kind of opportunity and we intend to be CPMers until Raissa blogs no more.

    • For someone who has stopped reading me and think it’s a waste of time, you sure wasted a lot of your time posting this long diatribe against me.

      hey honey, if i were just after hits i wouldnt be writing this. i would be writing why lani mercado wept after her 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

      You said Enrile can always say he too exceptional interest in ceza. but he didn’t, my dear. You have to put enrile’s ceza statement in context. he wrote and published his memoirs only recently. having covered enrile IN PERSON, i would take his pdaf statements in a general way, not in a specific way as you want readers to take them. he ws tslking about how he handles pdaf in genersl by giving a particular example – ceza.

      besides, as a veteran and wily politician he knows what pdaf can do.

      • Read my post again. Reading your article was the waste of time. Posting the comment hopefully was not, as this reply.

        Consider the following:

        – Your quotes from Enrile’s book do not indicate in any manner whatsoever that he was referring to his pork “in a general way” as you said. He said he wants to give back to Cagayan which “nurtured” him in his early years. He could not have been more specific than that. If that is your idea of a generalization then your logic is seriously flawed. Which brings us back to the question of why write this inaccurate article “tounge-in-cheek” like, because you “covered” him in person? That’s it? That is why you postulate the supposed contradiction? Gotta be the hits.

        – Mendoza’s manifestation: “PDAF.” Enrile’s book: CDF. Same pork, different animal (one is baboy- damo, the other is double-kill, ha ha!). Seriously, they are from different budget allocations. In short, when Mendoza says PDAF, he can always claim he wasn’t talking about CDF. Legal hair-splitting? Yes, but you do win cases doing that. Which brings me back again to all the hoopla generated by your contradiction claim, all totally useless.

        I do not defend Enrile or any other alleged (libel, anyone?) plunderer. I would rather do the prosecuting myself because I know I could probably do a better job getting him and the Ipis Boys convicted. I posted the above comment and this reply to hopefully somehow help your blognuts put their opinions in the proper legal and practical perspective, maybe even yours, too, including whomsoever has been giving you legal advice which I’m sure you’re getting, albeit seemingly inaccurately.

        Can’t take a dose of your own medicine, Raissa?

        • Mister sooper intellectual, renowned master of law in all the universe and certain parts of Gagalangin, had this to say about posting remarks on this blog:

          (1) “I’ve stopped doing that”
          (2) “what a waste of time”

          But wait, didn’t he just post AGAIN? I guess he has all the reliability of a senator

        • Argumentum Ad Hominem. But that is what trolls are renowned for. I have stopped reading Raissa’s articles and posting comments before, but I read her above article because I was ensnared by the misleading Title re Enrile’s “contradiction,” and so, seeing all the useless fuss about it, I felt compelled to point out the fallacy of the logic behind the article, the possible motive for it, hoping to give her blognuts and trolls a different perspective of things.

          Again, time spent reading the article, wasted. Opportunity to comment on the article, taken.

          Enough said. Troll away!

        • Gloria, why quit so early in the day? I hope you drop by and say hello anytime after 9AM New York time or 9PM Manila time. I also hope that you oblige for old time’s sake.

        • ahh, the utterly predictable whiny ad hom defense, typically adopted by the coward who first resorted to attack posts. A fitting companion in hypocrisy to the petulant declaration that you’ll never evah post again – only to keep coming back for more. Is that how alleged “Filipino intellectuals” behave? Oh tsk tsk and dear me

        • Oh and by the way, in addition to the above comment, do you really want everyone to believe you will get more hits writing about Lani Mercado crying than claiming the “great Enrile” (ha ha) whom I call the Legal Houdini of the Philippines (yes, Raissa, I know him enough, too) has committed a legal error and painted himself in a corner? Give me a break! You just indirectly admitted to unfounded sensationalized journalism for the sake of hits.

          I think there is enough evidence to convict Enrile. But to those of you who think you can pin him down legally, like the “contradiction” you are claiming, good luck to you! Forget about Estelito Mendoza. The real legal genius you fail to acknowledge here is Enrile himself!

          Dare you. Why don’t you write about Lani Mercado and prove me wrong!

        • it seems to escape Mister Sooper Intellectual, leading legal luminary of the galaxy and certain parts of Tondo that

          (1) this isn’t a court
          (2) raissa isn’t a lawyer
          (3) what was expressed was an opinion, to wit: Enrile is saying in effect “wala naman akong kinalaman sa pag-direct ng pork ko to specific projects” yet, by golly here he is in his own memoirs showing him doing exactly that

          What mister Sooper Intelllectual Gloria (or should it be Glorio) is saying is that “this blog is false, I want my money back, cancel my subscription, nobody should believe it etc etc”

          Well, that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. Yet, for some reason you keep coming back for more. Astounding. Astonishing.

          Also, whether or not anybody listens to your super brilliant recommendation that they stop visiting this site — well that really depends on your credibility, right? I’m sure it’s pretty high. Somewhere. Like in your living room.

        • Gloria, I dare you to post your comment after 9AM New York time or 9PM Manila time except weekends.

        • @Gloria….

          I was waiting for you to write after Alan’s post:

          “here comes the husband defending the wife because Raissa can not defend herself…”

          what a disappointment you are!!!!

    • Di kaya si Mariano na naman ito na galit sa mga pango and brown na Pinoy pero balik ng balik dito?

      Kung ayaw mo ang mga nababasa mo bakit nagsulat ka pa ng pagkahaba-haba? Di ba aksaya yun sa oras mo, na sabi mo?

      Ako hindi nagaaksaya ng oras sa pagpunta dito at pagbasa ng mga nakasulat dito (nila Ma’am Raissa at Sir Alan, at lahat ng mga nadalaw dito), kasama ka na kasi dito ako nagkakaroon ng kaalaman sa mga nangyayari sa bayan ko na di ko mabasa sa mga dyaryo lalong lalo na naririnig sa mga pulitiko.

    • So, according to you, Gloria, we are both intellectuals like many in CPM. But I am not sure who amongst us is an intellectual Pygmy.

      • Hay Gloria! and you have chosen yourself to be called Gloria which is the most hated name in the philippines. buti pa, huwag ka na lang mag-comment kung ayaw mo namang basahin ang blog ni Raissa (very contradicting, di ba?) halata namang nagbabasa ka sa kanyang blog, kung hindi, wala kang isusulat na comment. buti pa, do it secretly para walang makakaalam. teka muna, Raissa. ano nga ba ang alam mo tungkol kay Lani kung bakit siya umiyak sa 25th wedding anniversary nila? mukhang entertaining yon, a. i haven’t watch filipino movies for a long long time and i don’t know this lani very well dahil kapanahunan ko sina nora aunor and vilma santos at hindi na rin ako nakapagsubaybay sa kanila. nalaman ko na lang na naging mayor, tapos naging governor si Ate Vi. ganyan ako kahuli sa balita. aside from having a pretty face even without make-up (reminds me of a pretty one time movie star in the late ’70’s Marianne de la Riva, nobody remembers her?, never mind) i knew nothing about her at bigla ko na lang nakita na husband na niya si Bong Revilla (who’s also strange to me for i only know his father, Nardong Putik).. Nang dahil sa Pork scam na ito, they are getting popular and I’m now interested to know everything about this couple. Kaya, please Raissa, tutal di.nare ka na rin lang ni Gloria tungkol doon, go for it.

    • There is nothing more useless than a person who thinks he is useless. – gloria walang kwenta

    • ‘Useless, irrelevant, and misleading’ says [email protected]

      Like a judge making a ruling on a point of order. It’s not irrelevant for sure. Neither misleading. Useless? Very useful almost up to 99%!

      Agitating story? You were agitated to write long? ‘Pull your hair, grit your teeth, splay yourself on the ground and shout to high heavens’ is clearly irrelevant.

      Gloria is repetitious here. Useless? Yes, it is. Ad Hominem user? Definitely! Can’t help herself to get ensnared.

      Glory be to heavens Gloria! May your posting be not futile indeed.

  4. Let us go back…

    How strong for ‘weight consideration’ would Ms. Ruby Chan Tuason’s sworn statement dated 4 February 2014 before the Philippine Consulate San Francisco, California, USA, re Senator Enrile’s PDAF [ Raissa’s Feb. 23, 2014 Issue here] ?

    Question/Answer No. 43 Ms. Tuason says she met Atty. Gigi Reyes at the restaurant TSUKIJI, MAMOU,GOURMAND and L’ OPERA at the Fort, Taguig.

    Question/Answer No. 44 Was Atty. Gigi Reyes alone when she received or picked-up the MONEY for Senator Enrile? The lady attorney was alone BUT Ms. Tuason remembers OCCASIONS that Senator Juan Ponce Enrile WOULD JOIN US, when we are almost done, FOR A CUP OF COFFEE.

    Question/Answer No. 45 How LONG would Senator Enrile STAY on OCCASIONS he would be PRESENT at the DESIGNATED RESTAURANT? Ms. Tuason says NOT LONG…after COFFEE, he would leave…and sometimes he would COME BACK TO PICK-UP GIGI.

    No evidence here? A sworn statement implicating the Senator and Atty. Gigi Reyes?

    Direct evidence not in Ms. Tuason’s sworn statement? Even if Senator Enrile was SEEN with Atty. Gigi on several OCCASIONS picking up the MONEY? Even when Senator Enrile would TAKE A CUP OF COFFEE?

    Ms. Tuason’s EYES SAW HIM (JPE) together with Atty. Gigi Reyes in those OCCASIONS picking up the MONEY? Perceptions of Ms. Tuason on those moments aren’t true? False?

    Was Ms. Tuason having ILLUSIONS seeing the Senator with Atty. Gigi Reyes picking up the money? Seeing a MIRAGE the Senator DRINKING A CUP OF COFFEE?

    All these occasions at restaurant TSUKIGI? At the Fort, Taguig City?

    After PICKING UP THE MONEY, who do you think CARRIED THE MONEY after the Senator PICK UP ATTY. GIGI REYES?

    Atty. Mendoza says no direct evidence. What evidence are they therefore, those ABOVE PERCEPTIONS as witnessed by Ms. Tuason? Atty. Mendoza knows what evidence they are but does not want to say it.

    Granting that Mendoza says cleverly there is no direct evidence by Ms. Tuason HANDING the bags of MONEY to the Senator but on THOSE OCCASIONS after the CUP OF COFFEE by the Senator, Atty. Gigi Reyes picked-up by the Senator, WHO WAS CARRYING THE BAGS OF MONEY then?

    Is direct evidence the only evidence to say that a crime is committed, being committed, was committed etc.?

    Circumstantial evidence not evidence when there are more THAN TWO, THREE, FOUR or more circumstantial evidence to say a crime is present and committed?

    Tsukigi Bags of Money Presence of Senator Cup of Coffee Staying Awhile Picking Up Atty. Gigi Reyes Leaving Together After Money is Taken – how many CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THESE?

    I count about EIGHT circumstantial evidence.Are these more than TWO? Yes.

    Can these EIGHT have PROBABLE CAUSE? Yes. Are these EIGHT strong enough for conviction if not credibly controverted? Yes. Credible? Yes.

    One eye witness compared to these EIGHT CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE which is stronger for probable cause and/or conviction? The EIGHT are stronger. It gives the WHOLE CRIMINAL STORY…an oil painting; the whole sketch; a Black and White PHOTO…a MONA LISA face at that.

    Senator Enrile’s own words destroys his poor defense. Atty. Mendoza’s repetition of this defense destroys doubly this poor defense.

    • It is a fact that Enrile picked up Gigi and the bag handed by Ruby to the latter. This is regardless who among Gigi, Enrile or his driver personally carried the bag. Ruby said that the bag contained the money. But neither Gigi, Enrile nor the driver opened the bag in the presence of Ruby.

      Of course there is no positive evidence that Enrile SAW the money in the bag with Ruby around. But there is positive or direct evidence that Enrile TOOK Gigi and the bag into his car. So that it is a matter of evidence whether the bag contained PDAF money or not. And there is positive testimony of Ruby that she SAW the bag with the PDAF money in it; that she handed the same bag to Gigi in the presence of Enrile: and that Enrile TOOK Gigi and the bag into his car.

      • That is ‘the pattern’ of their scheme in this course. A ‘signature’ of ‘how to do it.’ it’s Ms. Tuason’s word against Senator Enrile. Between an ‘affirmative’ vs ‘negative’ for evidential purposes, the ‘affirmative’ is preferred.

        Now, it’s a matter of defense for Senator Enrile during the main trial.

        Thanks [email protected]

    • ‘four restaurants: “TSUKIJI, MAMOU,GOURMAND and L’ OPERA at the Fort, Taguig.”

      Four occasions. Four meetings. Four deliveries of bags of MONEY. Four times picking-up Atty. Gigi Reyes. Four occasions of over a CUP OF COFFEE. and lastly

      Four times of SILENCE of Senator Enrile. No talk to Ms. Tuason. No word like ‘Hi Ms. Tuason! Hello Ma’m Tuason! Oh! Kumusta ka! or Here we are again!’ Nothing at all. Very unusual for a politician. A senator at that. A pattern of silence.

      One can logically and reasonably at that conclude the acts: silence; absence of words; absence of greetings etc. A pattern. For what purpose? Anticipation of being ‘too much of record.’

      Record of what? Evidence. Of what evidence? Of involvement? To what? PDAF money.

      As a lawyer, it was thought of and done according to thought and the plan. Not too clever but nice to be clever.

      Like it was a ‘killing’ he was there at the scene. Pick-up the killer. Sitting and drinking a cup of coffee while the shooting was being done. Stayed awhile. After done, pick-up the ‘killer’ and both left. Nice.

      Pattern indeed.

    • Sandigan Bayan justices should immediately issue a court order after a petition by the gov’t prosecutors to the restos mentioned to produce any CCTV footages, duplicate copy of official receipts and waiters or waitresses or any witnesses regarding the supposed meetings to bolster evidence in favor of the gov’t.

        • @rey???

          what made you say that?????

          does waiting for Raissa’s next write up make me one person with 3 other fake names? And I haven’t read any press release from Butch Abad after his name has been included in the so-called lists….

          how i wish though i would have the riches of either Napoles or Gigi Reyes without the legal cases / problems attached to the riches.

          Gloria Labandera? …. nope, I am retired from doing laundry… :)

          SMILE & THE WORLD SMILES BACK AT YOU!!!!

        • nagtatanong lang si rey.
          chit navarro is neither of the 3.
          she is herself. ms chit navarro.
          welcome to CPM, rey!

        • Rey, are you really clueless about Chit Navarro? Ang lumakad ng matulin na hindi nakatingin sa daraanan ay nadarapa at napapa-ngudngud ang mukha. Try again next time. Huwag kang susuko.

  6. tanong…
    nakakaawa ba si tanda?
    naaawa ba kayo?
    maaawa ka ba kung ang isang taong malaon nang nagwawalambahala sa pagkawala ng salaping ipinagkatiwala sa kanya?
    ako, hindi.
    oo dapat iginagalang natin ang may edad.
    oo tama lang at naaayon sa kagandahang asal.
    pero sa kaso ni tanda, iba ito.
    igagalang mo ba ang isang taong malasakit sa pondo?
    iyung walang pakialam sa buwis na galing sa maliliit, mahihina, maralita?
    dapat mabalik ang pondong nawawala.
    ang isang batang nang-agaw ng lollipop ng kalaro,
    tinuturuan ng magulang na ibalik ang inagaw niya.
    oo, wala ng magulang na magtuturo kay tanda para maipabalik sa kaban ang nawalang pdaf. maibabalik pa ba ang pondong naagaw sa mga maralitang tulad natin.
    ilang taon nang paulit-ulit na nawala ang pdaf na hindi raw niya alam.
    alibi. itanong kay Gigi? ang kanyang in-authorize ba ang nagbulsa? alam niya yun.
    kung iyong sentimo nga na na-overcharge sa cellphone bills niya alam niya. at iyong bilyon overcharge na naipabalik niyang meralco bills sa mga consumers nakwenta niya. yun pa kayang pondong siya ang author at nagrequest na maisama sa taunang budget?
    iyan ang aking mga pinagtatakhan…
    dapat siyang makulong.
    dapat lang na maibalik ang pdaf na nawala. at pagdusahan ang kasalanan ng maysala.

    • …sa akin, ibalik muna ni Tanda ang mga nakulimbat nya at saka natin pag-usapan ang edad nya at kung saan sya ipipiit. Meron tayong mga “home for the aged” di ba? Siguro pwede si Tanda sa mga isa doon. “Anywhere but his home”.

      • kajames, enrile may not be safe if placed in home for the aged. they maybe old but old people may gang up against enrile and suffocate him in his sleep, with a pillow.

        old people have long memories and some of their families might have suffered greatly because of enrile. his presence might trigger bad memories long thought forgotten. lagot siya.

  7. MANILA, Philippines – The Makati City government on Wednesday said it has remitted to the Bureau of Treasury the amount of P54.7 million representing unutilized Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) coursed through the city.

    Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the remittance is in keeping with the Supreme Court decision dated November 19, 2013 declaring the PDAF as unconstitutional.”

    http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/06/25/1338863/makati-returns-p54.7m-pdaf-government

    Good. Na tau-han! What about the others? When?

    • Sinoli pagkatapos binatikos ni Cong Erice na PDAF sa Makati may katiwalian.
      Ngayun, dapat COA suriin Kung kailan nagkarun ng sobrang PDAF, ngayun taon lamang o two years or 3 or 4 or 5 years ago may sobra. Kung noon pa ang sobra, Bakit Ngayun Lamang Sinoli? Pagkatapos binulgar ni Erice si Rep. Abigail Binay!

      Abangan ang susunod na kabanata ng Novelang
      “Ganito kami sa Makati, Nag-Illinis-linisan”
      he he he

      • very cheap political gimmick of the binays, abigail should have re-programmed the alleged unutilized PDAF and used it instead for the general well-beings of thousands of squatters in Makati, their bailiwick since time immemorial.

  8. hard to keep track of all the lies uttered, eh Manong? your very words will come back and bite you squarely in the @$$. same goes to all accused.

  9. Nakakalungkot isipin ang pahiwatig ni Pnoy at ni Sen. Trillanes na dapat bigyan si Sen. Enrile ng humanitarian consideration dahil siya ay may edad na 90, samantalang yung mga preso sa documentary ni Abner Mercado (Krusada) ay namatay na at yung iba ay patuloy na namamatay habang nag aantay ng executive clemency.

    At mayroon din mga tulad ni JLN, Jinggoy at Revilla na hindi manlang umabot ng isang buong araw ay may reklamo na. Mayroon pang mga hiling na tablet, tv or air conditioner para sa kanilang piitan.

    Basahin ninyo na lang po ito at sana mayroon makapag-link ng buong documentary/video ng Krusada ni Abner Mercado:

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/current-affairs-programs/08/10/11/krusada-freedom-book-2

      • martial, I think, by humanitarian, PNoy was speaking diplomatically to mean na kung magkasakit man si enrile while in custody at kung tunay ang sakit niya ay gagamutin siya. he will be given medical care as per protocol, nothing more, nothing less, at hindi pababayaan. at ililibing kung mamatay man siya at hindi siya hihiwain at ipapakain sa daga.

        his family will be notified and maybe called beforehand so enrile will not die alone. they will be there to hold his hand and comfort him. but if they’re squeamish and afraid to come near him, then PNP medical staff will comfort him, maybe call priest to give enrile the last rite.

        if in the middle of the night enrile dies alone like most people do despite everything, he will be treated with dignity. if death is suspicious, there will be autopsy. if death is not suspicious, he will be cleaned and dressed then his family can come and view him. no one will take pictures of him while maybe naked, dying and in death throes and the picture posted in the internet. he will be respected as befits a human being.

        the family’s wishes will be respected if they choose to have enrile’s labi taken immediately to funeral home, then to his hometown or the senate for viewing.

        • . . . in the meantime, enrile can still serve detention. if he’s on medication, his medication will not be confiscated and stopped. instead he will be encouraged to continue on taking whatever medication he has previously been prescribed. that’s humanitarian. we want him healthy and strong so he can serve out his sentence.

        • It’s true enrile is too old to be jailed
          It’s true also that he’s too old to plunder the public coffers.

          Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying “thieves must sit in prison”

        • . . . thief sitting in prison and enrile reflecting on what he has done. in solitude. everything is regimented for him, meals served on time, visitors screened and visiting hours adhered to. enrile smiling he got it easy, no hard labor for him, his safety ensured. life is good. he’s away and shielded from media sharks always asking rude and embarrassing questions, away from people’s prying eyes. guarded and safe within 4 walls. a cell all for himself and with medical care available when needed, enrile got it so good, he might even decide to stay longer in jail.

        • hahaha…”enrile got it so good” …too good to be true! He’s fooling even PNoy and the rest of the politicians?

          ‘Matuwad’ ang lakad sa daan…nya sana.

        • Tagal ko nang d nagcomment dito puro na lang ako basa pero @Kalahari dapat wag mo gamitin yang quote ni Vladimir Putin, dapat mauna siya sa piitan kasi mandarambong rin yan sa Russia.

          Kung si Enrile or Putin pipiliin ko, kay Enrile na lang ako, di hamak na mas mautak at tuso si Putin samantalang kung ipagtabi mo silang dalawa eh Amateur lang yan si Tanda :)

        • Macabre scenario,,, a trailer, a sequel in “The Fault is in the start..my GIGI” @moonie

    • oo, malungkot kung magkagayon nga.
      kung ang nagsasalita ay mga kauri ng ilang namuno na sa atin.
      pero iba naman si Pnoy.
      may paniwala akong ‘Pnoy is sincere in his commitment’ to his bosses.
      he will rid our nation of parasites.
      pero hindi niya yun kakayanin nang mabilisan.
      hindi siya diyos, hindi rin si superman.
      hindi rin naman siya kasing-talino o kasing-gulang ni mackoy at ng marami nating mandarambong. mahirap talunin ang tuso.
      basahin natin ang isipan niya sa pagitan ng mga linyang kanyang binibitiwan

  10. LOLOS GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION, REJOICE!

    http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/614150/enrile-too-old-to-jail

    This will send a message to all evil doers in their senior age – you can do anything you want, and you will not be accountable for it due to your old age!

    If Enrile is indeed guilty of the charges, then that is no different from a lolo who abuses his own grandchildren, although in Enrile’s case, it will be the entire Filipino people he was abusing!

    Is this the effect of Catholicism on us – we become too soft and forgiving, and deny justice for the aggrieved?

    • We can call it now ‘Age-justice’ or ‘justice per Age’.

      There is nothing in the laws that we and our leaders do this or accept this kind of selective treatment on inmates or detainees.

      Why are we or they make ‘extra-judicial legislation’ or ‘extra-judicial intervention’ on this detainees’ issue?

      Isn’t this a result of pakikisama system or of the deep corruption in our midst?

      Tama Na! Sobra Na! Alisin Na!

      • authorities should consider the seriousness of the crime of plunder and the history of impunity in the country before they open their mouths.

  11. Old age does not prevent the criminal-minded from committing heinous crimes. In like manner, old age should not exempt the criminal-minded from being brought to the bar of justice and serving time to pay for their crimes.

    If Senator Enrile were to be found guilty of plunder he should serve his time, notwithstanding his old age. – and there should be plenty of years ahead for him to pay his debt to society, if he were found guilty.

    Just consider John Bunz, who at 94 years old, was New York’s oldest prison inmate who was convicted of his wife’s brutal murder. In September 2010, Bunz was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

  12. Observations – from Raissa above

    “FIRST: Enrile “merely” recommends projects. Such a statement would imply that enrile has little say on whether a project with his PDAF pushes through or not.”

    “On the PDI issue of 6/21/14 in a column entitled “Evidence vs Enrile underwhelming”

    Charges of conspiracy

    On charges of conspiracy between enrile and his staff, the legal team noted that the authority he gave to his chief of staff (Jessica Lucilla “gigi” Reyes) and deputy chief of staff (Jose Antonio Evangelista II) was “made explicitly subject to the pertinent rules and regulations and for the proper implementation of projects.” The team noted that since the supporting papers for the PDAF releases were forged, Enrile was ignorant of these transactions.

    The legal team said that Enrile’s participation in the PDAF disbursement process after his ENDORSEMENT was unnecessary as this was “merely inserted” by Napoles, the whistle-blowers, and implementing agencies as “an obvious cover-up and pretext for the violations they committed.”

    The foregoing conclusively belie enrile’s assertion that he merely recommend his PDAF projects to the executive branch.

    • @ Kalahari,

      Ipagpalagay nating fake ang signatures ni enrile, at purely recomendatory lang daw sila, at gigi reyes was doing everything regarding his PDAF, Bakit wala siyang ginawang hakbang laban kay janet lim napoles na ginawang silang TANGA at BOBO dahil fake/Bogus NGOs.napuntahan nang PDAF na Pera nang Bayan at napakatapang naman nitong si janet lim napoles at nagawang dayain/linlangin/pagnakawan ang ikatlong pinaka mapangyarihang Tao sa pilipinas being the senate president… ha ha ha at hindi lang isa o dalawang beses nangyari, Napakaraming beses nangyari at higit yata sa limang taon SABWATAN nang mga MAGNANAKAW sa KABAN nang BAYAN….

      At Alam ito nang halos lahat na senadores ang problema lang ay karamihan o halos lahat ay takot din sa maaaring mangyari kapag nilantad/ ibinulgar ang ANOMALYA nang PDAF SCAM?

      Salamat at mayroong Benhur Luy at ibang testigo lalo na kay Pnoy kasama mga kaalyado nito sa Pamahalaan na handang magsakripisyo para para maladtad at mapanagot ang mga BABOY, BUWAYA, MAGNANAKAW, MANDARAMBONG sa Kaban nang BAYAN….

  13. If Enrile said in his memoirs that he had poured much of his CDF allocations to the road infrastructure needed for the development of CEZA, he in effect admitted:

    1. that he had pork allocations;
    2. that he played an active role in implementing projects funded by such pork
    allocations. Note his use of the action verb “poured.”

    He cannot now claim thru his lawyer that he “was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it.”

    By the legal principle of estoppel, Enrile should be barred from using the latter claim as his defense. Please see my earlier comment regarding estoppel.

  14. Criminal cases need to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The specific instances of criminal behavior need to be proven.

    Even if Atty Estelito Mendoza is wrong, i.e. there are SOME instances when Enrile was entrusted with any PDAF allocation, or tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it, it still does not mean that the specific instances found in the charge sheet are actually instances when Enrile did the opposite of what he said in his book.

    • Oops…the last part should be:

      it still does not mean that the specific instances found in the charge sheet are actually instances when Enrile did what he said in his book.

      • However, remember that Atty Mendoza said:

        “The evidence shows that Enrile was not entrusted with any PDAF allocation, nor tasked to handle the PDAF, or to participate in the implementation of any government project funded by it.”

  15. And Viagra Does Him Too !!
    —————————————

    So we have 2 wonderful pieces of evidence that shows that Enrile KNEW exactly how his PDAF funds were spentt .The statements in his book , exposed by Raissa shows how much of a liar he is.

    Now regarding his list of medication he submitted to the court to prove that he is VERY ILL..it would be nice if someone can obtain evidence that he takes VIAGRA regularly to keep himself ” firm and strong ” and take advantage of opportunities provided by his girlfriends.

    If we could just obtain evidence from some drug store that he takes VIAGRA …then he really needs to spend time in a common jail with others who are even ” firmer and stronger ” than him.
    Mariam would then have to be admitted to hospital because she wont be able to stop laughing.

    • If he is very ill, why can he attend Senate sessions even more regularly than Sen. Miriam Santiago?

      • I believe in all honesty that JPE is not ‘very’ ill. He may have what others have being 90 years old like poor walking feet/knees; poor hearing that needs hearing aid; high BP…many have this. This last one has a daily drug for that. Once or a couple of times you miss to take it, watch out! Who will remind him to take it everyday? Or he will pass away…

        At 90 years, used to all the perks of a rich man’s life, one electric fan might not do. So give him three or four: N E S W. If really, I say really – he needs an air-conditioner let him buy and have it installed but he PAYS the monthly bill for electric consumption.

        He’ll miss ‘an attendant’ for sure to get things for him. But if inside that bungalow cell, what many things would be there? A very few at that. Of course let him bring that ‘Jewel’ gadget he loves to play with. He’ll sustain for long with it.

        The point is: he has to be detained at that bungalow cell if that is it due to a warrant. To put him in a regular cell is now out of the question as Bong and Sexy are not in it. He’ll surely complain like an ordinary regular detainee will do.

        I am having that feeling he will be granted bail by the 1st Division after a warrant of arrest is issued.

        Alternative feeling is a house-arrest with no Bail necessary. Why this feelings?

        The ‘waiting’ from the 1st Division is it!

        • Leona, I am ESL guilty as well, I hope Raissa and Allan can give me some VIP TREATMENT for I am a second class PINAY sans the tattoo. hehehe
          Nevertheless, I am celebrating the new epidemic of BIJ, though it seems not very infectious to the poor citizens it infects only those who are in close contact with the present occupants of cell B ( Bong) and cell J (Jinggoy).

          Ang tatapang nila ano, daga at ipis lang pala katapat nila. Tanda is already a broken man, his 90 year old mentality is now like a 09 year old kid, what a shameful legacy of an intelligent crooked man that even his grandkids would disown him , the LOLO title if he has grandkids and in itself a privilege/ a milestone is now read backwards OLOL.

        • ganon din ang feeling ko, leona at netty. I dont think enrile is that sick as many wants us to believe.

          every man and woman when faced with uncertainties of jail appear broken, some become suicidal. that’s normal reaction. being taken out of their usual environment and plonked elsewhere elicited that sort of reaction. but given 4-7 days, they usually settle in their new environment in the selda and become more acceptable of their situation. they become acclimatized and less troublesome.

          same with puppies when you 1st bring them in to your home. they whimper and whine, and then whimper and whine some more before they settle in, then they become acclimatized and become part of the family.