MANILA – Former Senate President and current Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has been acquitted of his remaining graft charges in connection with the Philippines’ notorious “pork barrel” scandal, prompting mixed reactions from government officials and opposition figures.

The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division cleared Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles of 15 graft counts, ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

While Napoles and several co-accused were ordered to pay the government millions of pesos in restitution, the court imposed no civil liability on Enrile, Reyes, or the other defendants.

Palace Calls for Respect of Court Decision

Malacañang distanced itself from the ruling, urging the public to respect the judiciary’s decision.

“Nagsalita na ang korte, so igalang natin. Igalang po natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a briefing, reiterating that the executive branch would not comment on the merits of the Sandiganbayan’s judgment.

Furthermore, the press officer said that Malacañang is bound by the separation of powers to recognize the judiciary’s independence. “Papaano po tayo makakapagbigay ng anumang impluwensiya sa korte? Korte po iyan, may separation of powers at kailangan po nating igalang kasi kapag hindi po natin iginalang ang mga desisyon ng korte magiging chaotic country po tayo. So, mahirap po ‘yun. Dapat nating pagtiwalaan ang ating justice system.”

“Ang Pangulo, ang gusto niya kapag nagsampa ng kaso hindi mabilisan, dapat kumpleto ang ebidensya dahil kapag nagkataon kaunti lamang pagkakamali especially criminal case ito any doubt at kapag hindi po naakusahan or nagkaroon ng judgment beyond reasonable doubt talaga pong magkakaroon ng acquittal,” Castro stressed.

De Lima Voices Frustration Over Justice System

Opposition figures, however, expressed concern over what the acquittal signifies for accountability in high-profile cases.

Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, a former Justice Secretary and senator, described the decision as “frustrating” and warned it could undermine public trust in the justice system.

“This is always what is so frustrating for the Ombudsman and the DOJ,” De Lima said. “We started fresh and strong on the evidence when we filed the PDAF cases… The problem is the slow wheels of justice, with the accused relying on the public’s short memory to eventually be absolved because of less scrutiny over their cases over years of trial.”

De Lima also raised concerns about ongoing investigations into other controversial projects, suggesting that the acquittal may set a troubling precedent for accountability.

“Faith in our justice system is difficult to achieve and/or sustain if the courts apply a different kind of justice to privileged offenders as compared to common accused,” De Lima stressed.

The Pork Barrel Fallout

The case stems from the infamous Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, exposed in 2013. Lawmakers’ discretionary funds were allegedly siphoned into fake NGOs run by Napoles, enriching politicians and their cohorts.

Enrile, Reyes, and Napoles were indicted for plunder in 2014 over P172.8 million in supposed kickbacks from Enrile’s PDAF allocations from 2004 to 2010. Enrile had already been acquitted of plunder in 2024 after the court ruled he didn’t meet the P50 million threshold for the charge.

Other key senators, including Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, were also cleared in separate plunder cases.

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