- Trial of plunder case against Janet Napoles and Jessica Lucila “Gigi’ Reyes suspended again
- Prosecution asked the Sandiganbayan for additional time to finish remarking documentary evidence
- Prosecution also wants to mark an additional 943 documents as new evidence
The trial of the plunder case against Janet Napoles and Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes was once again suspended because the prosecution is still not finished with remarking some of the documentary exhibits.
According to an article written by Elizabeth Marcelo and published by GMA News, the state prosecutor Cornelio Somido admitted before the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday that they are still not finished remarking their documentary evidence and that they need more time to do so; this is despite the fact the Court has given them more than one month to do the same.
The Third Division had earlier ordered the remarking of some of the documentary exhibits of the prosecution after it found several discrepancies with the description and numbering on some of them.
The Sandiganbayan had previously canceled the trial dates in mid-February and for the entire March to provide the prosecution ample time to finish the remarking.
However, during the hearing on Wednesday, it was revealed that the prosecution has still 143 documents to remark.
Aside from this, the prosecution said they further need to have an additional 943 documents to be marked as new exhibits.
According to GMA News, the documents that the prosecution wanted to be marked as additional exhibits included liquidation reports, disbursement vouchers, check numbers, several photographs and letters of correspondence between the government implementing agencies and the supposed fake non-government organizations (NGOs) allegedly chosen by Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile as partners in implementing projects funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
The prosecution also said that they need the entire month of April to finish all the marking of the documents.
Meanwhile, Third Division chairman Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang expressed dismay over the delays, but in the end, acceded with the request.
“Where will this bring us? Are we going to suspend the proceedings for as long as the prosecution wants to?” Tang said.
Napoles’ lawyer Stephen David also expressed his dismay over the prosecution’s intention to present over 900 more documents.
“Those were existing documents. Even before the PDAF case, those documents were already there in the liquidation documents with the COA. Why didn’t they include them in their first list of evidence?,” David said.
“We want to expedite the trial because that is the only way Napoles will be acquitted,” he added.
Post a Comment