Sandiganbayan acquits Enrile in pork scam case

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Friday, October 24, acquitted Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of graft, clearing him in all pork barrel scam cases. The ruling pertains to the alleged misuse of P172.8 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2004 to 2010 during his tenure as senator. The 101-year-old Enrile’s victory leaves the Aquino administration with zero wins and three losses in its major pork barrel prosecutions, following the earlier acquittals of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla. Originally scheduled for September 12, the promulgation was delayed for further deliberation after a division member submitted a reflection paper. Enrile, unlike his co-accused, was never jailed, having secured humanitarian bail through a Supreme Court ruling.