Enrile out on bail, eyes return to the Senate

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday night received his provisional liberty after posting a bail of P1.45 million and presenting himself to the Sandiganbayan.

"Today I have been released from custody," Enrile said to media at around 6:50 p.m. "And I would like to state for the record that my faith in the probity and justness of our judiciary has been vindicated and I will now go back to my work." 

He added that he had no interest, "except the interest of the country."

Asked when he would return to his work at the Senate, he said he was still unsure. He declined to answer further questions.

Eleazar Reyes, one of Enrile's lawyers, earlier said the senator was expected to return to work at the Senate on Monday.

Enrile arrived at the Sandiganbayan at 6:30 p.m. after two produce orders were given to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for 91-year-old senator to be brought to the anti-graft court to personally post bail. Enrile had been under hospital arrest at the and the PNP General Hospital/ 

Upon arrival, Enrile was ushered to the Third Division for his fingerprints, 2x2 photo, and signature "for his personal information sheet."

Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, chairperson of Third Division, then signed the order approving bail.

A release order was then signed by Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma.

The whole process took only less than 10 minutes.

Enrile posted bail after the Supreme Court, voting 8-4, granted his petition on Tuesday.

He filed his petition to post bail on September 4, 2014, citing his advanced age and voluntary surrender to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

P1.45-million bail

Earlier in the day, Pulma said the SC set a P1 million bail for Enrile's provisional release for the plunder charges filed against him.

In addition, he said Enrile would also need to pay an additional of P450,000 for the 15 counts of graft charges he is also facing in connection to his involvement in the alleged pork barrel scam.

Pulma made the remarks after the high court officially transmitted the decision the Sandiganbayan earlier on Thursday.

Shortly after Pulma's announcement, the lawyers of Enrile then paid 14 bundles of P100,000 at the cashier.

Enrile is facing the non-bailable offense of plunder for allegedly pocketing P172 million in kickbacks from the pork barrel scam.

Under Section of Republic Act 7080, a public official can be charged with plunder if he "amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt criminal acts" an aggregate amount or total value of at least P50 million.

Aside from Enrile, the two other senators face graft and plunder for allegedly misusing their pork barrel, or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). They are Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada.

Enrile was placed on hospital arrest while Estrada and Revilla are detained at the PNP Custodial Center, both in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Several former and current members of the House of Representatives and private individuals, as well as alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, are also facing charges in connection with the alleged anomaly. -NB/JST/ELR, GMA News