Enrile says good luck to Morales, lauds Duterte

FILE: “I wish her good luck,” the 94-year-old politician told the media at the Sandiganbayan Third Division after his pre-trial for his plunder case on Friday, July 13 (Photo by Avito Dalan via PNA)

Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile had a few words for Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who is set to retire on July 26.

“I wish her good luck,” the 94-year-old politician told the media at the Sandiganbayan Third Division after his pre-trial for his plunder case on Friday, July 13.

The said plunder case was filed by Morales, alleging his involvement with the pork barrel scam.

The Office of Ombudsman on June 2014 charged Enrile and his co-opposition senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada with plunder which is non-bailable.

Morales alleged that Enrile amassed P172.8 million by releasing his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) to the non-existent foundations of alleged pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim Napoles.

Of the three senators that are facing criminal raps, only Enrile’s is still in an early stage four years after being formally charged. Revilla and Estrada are already in the trial stage while Enrile’s pre-trial was reset to August 31, with both camps still not done with marking the evidence.

Enrile on Duterte

While Enrile was mum about the case he is facing in front of the reporters, he was more open to talking about his thoughts on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Following criticisms on the President and his decisions on foreign policy, particularly with China, for the former Senator, Duterte was doing the right thing.

“They have aircraft carriers. They have submarines. Missiles. What do we have? Kwitis,” Enrile said, adding that at least China is talking to us.

“At least they are talking to us. The moment they ignore us then we should worry. They are reaching us, we should welcome it,” he further said.

Enrile said that he is “generally satisfied” with the performance of Duterte, lauding his position and decisions about internal issues like the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA).