Miriam Wants Gigi’s Testimony on PDAF Scam

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to continue its investigation on the alleged pork barrel controversy to hear the testimony of Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, former chief of staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and also considered as a key personality in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Attorney Gigi Reyes, who was also charged of plunder before the Ombudsman, returned to the Philippines from the United States last April 19.

Senator Santiago, in a letter, had asked Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III to invite Reyes.

She said the committee can still continue its probe on the alleged anomaly, although Guingona already released a draft panel report recommending plunder charges against certain personalities, including Enrile and Reyes.

“I believe that the testimony of Atty. Reyes would serve to round off and clarify certain aspects of the partial report, and that the committee findings could be the proper subject of an addendum or similar subsequent report on Atty. Reyes’s testimony,” Santiago said in her letter.

GMA News Online, through a text message, ask Guingona for his reaction to Santiago’s letter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time on Monday. Reyes is being accused of receiving pork barrel kickbacks in behalf of Enrile, and signing documents for the release of these discretionary funds for the senator.

Reyes has denied these accusations in documents submitted to the Ombudsman.

Also being implicated in the alleged anomaly are Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, and several former members of the House of Representatives and heads of implementing agencies which supposedly served as conduits to funnel public funds to Napoles-linked foundations.

Santiago, a known critic of Enrile, earlier urged Reyes to “turn the tables” on her former boss by applying as state witness.

In January last year, Reyes resigned as chief of staff of then Senate President Enrile over accusations that she had personally wielded power over senate matters on behalf of Enrile.

Source: GMA News Online