Palace calls for public vigilance following surrender of Enrile

A smiling Enrile waived to the media before he left his house. @solartvnews pic.twitter.com/cSJxEqdCUN

— Joyce Ilas (@Joyceilas) July 4, 2014

MANILA — The Palace asked for public vigilance as the country starts its quest for justice in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam involving lawmakers.

“Yesterday, we again witnessed another development in the pork barrel case, as Senator Juan Ponce Enrile surrendered to authorities after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against him for plunder and graft,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on Saturday.

“As the nation closely follows this important episode in the pursuit of truth, we continue to ask the public to remain vigilant as the Sandiganbayan works to fulfill its mandate: to follow the appropriate processes in the service of justice.”

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the three senators accused of pocketing multimillion in pork barrel funds, surrendered to police authorities in Camp Crame Friday after an arrest order was issued against him by the Sandiganbayan.

Enrile is facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly pocketing P172.8 million in kickbacks from businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the pork barrel scam.

The arrest order is for the plunder charge, a non-bailable offense.

Other senators facing similar raps include Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. They have surrendered as well after arrest warrants were served by the Sandigangbayan and have since been detained at the PNP Custodial Center.