Cayetano asks why Enrile did not file charges vs. Gigi Reyes, Jose Evangelista

Documents show Enrile authorized staff to sign PDAF papers

By Office of the Senate Majority Leader
February 18, 2014

PASAY CITY – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano on Monday questioned why Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has yet to file charges against his former Chief-of-Staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes and another staff, one Jose Evangelista after they were implicated by whistleblowers and state witnesses in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Cayetano said that if Enrile is denying any participation in the alleged abuse and misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), then the natural course of action to pursue is to file charges against his staff implicated in the controversy.

“Bakit hindi pa kinakasuhan ni Sen. Enrile ‘yung mga empleyado niya? If I found out na may kalokohan sa opisina ko, I have two choices lang: I fire them and file a case or i-coddle ko sila at itago,” he said.

Cayetano disclosed that there are documents to show that Sen. Enrile authorized Gigi Reyes and Evangelista, listed as a deputy chief-of-staff, to sign his PDAF papers on his behalf. The two were implicated by Ruby Tuason during the last hearing of the Blue Ribbon panel on the pork barrel scam.

The said documents were allegedly signed by Enrile and addressed to the Commission on Audit. They authorize Reyes and Evangelista to sign pertinent documents to ensure proper implementation of livelihood projects funded allegedly by Enrile’s PDAF.

Cayetano said he came out with the documents amid discussions on the failure of Ruby Tuason to directly link Enrile to the pork barrel scam.

“I brought this out to prove na hindi naman palaging kailangan testimony [to link anyone to the controversy],” he said.

The Senate leader also chided Enrile’s statement that the minority leader will be facing the allegations of his participation in the pork barrel scam once they are filed in court.