Reyes asks Manila RTC to lift freeze order on her bank accounts

Atty. Jessica ‘Gigi’ Reyes

MANILA — The former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile has asked the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to lift the freeze order on her bank accounts and exclude her from the forfeiture proceedings initiated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against those implicated in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Atty. Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes maintained that the funds in her bank accounts came from legitimate activities.

Reyes argued that neither whistleblower Benhur Luy, witnesses Merlina Suñas, Gertrudes Luy, Anabelle Luy-Reario, Nova Kay Macalintal, Elena Abundo and Avelina Lingo were able to positively declare that she received a kickback from Enrile’s PDAF.

“Not one of these affiants attested of their own personal knowledge that herein respondent received any sum of money forming part of the PDAF of Senator Enrile. Their statements, apart from being vague, conclusory and lacking in any details as to time, date or place do not show that they were present or privy to the delivery, receipt and/or of my supposed acceptance of any funds constituting the PDAF of Senator Enrile,” Reyes said.

Reyes added that the allegations that she conspired with Enrile to commit plunder are bare–mere assumptions.

“Proof, not mere conjectures or assumptions, should be proffered which would show that the co-conspirators had taken part in the planning, preparation and participation of the alleged conspiracy,” Reyes said.

Reyes warned that the Supreme Court (SC) on several instances admonished against the careless use of the conspiracy theory that can sweep into jail even innocent persons.