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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace on acquittal of Enrile, Napoles, others in P172-M graft charges: We respect the decision of the court

Palace on acquittal of Enrile, Napoles, others in P172-M graft charges: We respect the decision of the court

Published Oct 24, 2025 04:24 pm
Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile arrives at the Sandiganbayan on Oct. 4, 2024. (Mark Balmores)
Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile arrives at the Sandiganbayan on Oct. 4, 2024. (Mark Balmores)
Malacañang said it respect the decision of the court after the Sandiganbayan acquitted Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and 32 others of their 15 graft charges involving the alleged misuse of his P172 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was a senator.
Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, former deputy chief of staff Jose Antonio Evangelista II, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles were also acquitted.
"Nagsalita na ang korte, so igalang natin. Igalang po natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte (The court has spoken, we respect it. We respect the decision of the court)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stated on Friday, Oct. 24.
Castro also emphasized that the administration has no influence over the court’s decision, stressing that it is not taking the matter lightly despite Enrile’s position as a sitting official in the Marcos administration.
"Papaano po tayo makakapagbigay ng anumang impluwensya sa korte (How can we possibly exert any influence over the court)?" the Palace official said.
"Korte po iyan, may separation of powers at kailangan po nating igalang kasi kapag hindi po natin ginalang ang mga desisyon ng korte magiging chaotic country po tayo, so mahirap po iyon, dapat nating pagtiwalaan ang ating justice system (That is the court — there is separation of powers, and we must respect that. If we do not respect the decisions of the court, our country would fall into chaos. That’s why it’s important that we place our trust in our justice system)," she stressed.
Castro also dismissed that the latest decision in relation to the controversial PDAF scam would create doubt among the people, saying it is "exactly what we want to convey to the public."
"Ang Pangulo, ang gusto niya kapag nagsampa ng kaso hindi mabilisan, dapat kumpleto ang ebidensiya dahil kapag nagkataon kaunti lamang pagkakamali especially criminal case ito any doubt at kapag hindi po naakusahan or nagkaroon ng judgment beyond reasonable doubt talaga pong magkakaroon ng acquittal (The President wants that when a case is filed, it should not be done hastily. The evidence must be complete, because in criminal cases, even the smallest error or any doubt could lead to an acquittal if the accused is not proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt)," Castro said.

Related Tags

Claire Castro PDAF Janet Lim Napoles Juan Ponce Enrile Sandiganbayan
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