Enrile files motion to stop plunder trial

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Photo courtesy of Enrile’s Facebook page.

MANILA – Through his legal team, detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday asked the Supreme Court to stop the anti-graft court from proceeding with his plunder case trial.

The former senator was charged with plunder and other cases for his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Enrile assailed the Sandiganbayan ruling denying his motion for the production of the prosecution’s evidence against him.

In a 73-page resolution, he also said that the Court’s denial of his motion for bill of particulars is a violation of his constitutional right to a fair trial.

“The denial by the Court of petitioner Enrile’s motion for bill of particulars now compels him to go to trial with one eye blindfolded,” read the petition.

“There cannot be a more blatant act of a Court that is without or in excess of jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to a lack or excess of jurisdiction than one which violates the rights of an accused under the Constitution and precludes the fairness of a trial,” he added.

“The denial by the Sandiganbayan of petitioner Enrile’s motion for bill of particulars is consequently not a mere denial of a procedural right granted an accused under the Rules of Court but of rights vested in an accused under the Constitution to assure fairness of the trial of the offense charged. For, indeed, only when the trial is fair can there be a judgment that is just,” read the petition.

With these arguments, Enrile is now asking the high court to declare void the resolution assailed because it was allegedly issued with grave abuse of discretion.