Enrile's plunder pre-trial canceled anew

MANILA, Philippines - Sandiganbayan on Friday canceled the pre-trial of the plunder complaint filed against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.

The anti-graft court deferred the hearing following the motion of Enrile to reset the pre-trial.

"Masaya kami at in-expect naman talaga namin na igra-grant 'yung aming motion dahil 'yun ang logical consequence because of the decision ng Supreme Court, na kailangang ibigay ng prosecution 'yung mga specific detail na hinihingi namin," Enrile's lawyer Joseph Sagondoy told members of the press.

Sagondoy added that the trial cannot proceed without the details that the senator has been asking for.

Enrile requested to include the names of the people who allegedly delivered and received the P172.8-million kickbacks he acquired from the pork barrel scam.

The prosecution failed to submit a pre-trial brief which includes the list of witnesses and evidence in relation to the cases against Enrile, prompting the court to cancel the hearing.

On the other hand, the Sandiganbayan did not approve the motion of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Napoles and Enrile's former chief of staff Gigi Reyes to cancel their pre-trial.

The Supreme Court earlier allowed Enrile to post bail following his petition, citing that the court should consider his advanced age and voluntarily surrender.

The senator is facing plunder and graft charges in relation to the controversial pork barrel scam. Enrile, Reyes and Napoles are accused of amassing P172.8 million in kickbacks from the scam of Priority Development Assistance Funds from 2004 to 2010.