MANILA – The Sandiganbayan tasked the prosecution to produce evidence against former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile in relation to the pork barrel fund case against him.
In a resolution released on Monday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division granted the motion of Enrile for the prosecution to produce material evidence in its possession.
The court added the evidence will only be “limited” to documents related to the prosecution’s bill of particulars or the itemization of charges filed against the former senator.
Enrile filed a motion months ago for the prosecution “to produce and permit the copying or photographing of any and all documents” to prepare for his defense.
The Sandiganbayan said “Enrile has absolute control on how to go about his defense. If in his mind, he needed to inspect or copy pieces of evidence which are material for him to make an intelligent defense, then he is allowed to ask for the inspection or production of these documents.”
“Section 10 Rule 116 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure is one of the modes of discovery in criminal cases, specifically given to the accused, the purpose of which is to prevent surprise, suppression, or alteration of any written statements given by the complainant and other witnesses in any investigation of the offense conducted by the prosecution,” it added.
Enrile allegedly amassed ill-gotten wealth worth P172.8-million after funneling his priority development assistance fund, or pork barrel, to the fake non-government organizations of convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles. /PN
