Try GOLD - Free

Sandiganbayan acquits Enrile

Manila Bulletin

|

October 25, 2025

32 others cleared in ₱172-M graft charges over PDAF

- By CZARINA NICOLE ONG KI

The Sandiganbayan acquitted on Friday, Oct. 24, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and 32 others of their 15 graft charges involving the alleged misuse of his ₱172 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was a senator.

Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes, former deputy chief of staff Jose Antonio Evangelista II, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles were also acquitted.

The 193-page per curiam (by the court with the writer unidentified) decision was signed by Associate Justices Ronald B. Moreno, Arthur O. Malabaguio, and Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar.

However, the anti-graft court imposed civil liabilities on Napoles and several others despite their acquittal.

The civil liabilities imposed per graft charge are ₱20,000,000.

P24,250,000, P19,400,000, P29,100,000, P22,500,000, P24,250,000, P24,250,000, P14,550,000, P9,700,000, P8,000,000, P20,000,000, P25,000,000, P25,000,000, P32,000,000, and P40,000,000.

MORE STORIES FROM Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Geopolitical hopes cut fuel prices next week

Motorists may get a slight reprieve at the pumps

time to read

1 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Japan issues tsunami advisory after 6.7 magnitude quake in country's northeast

Japan on Friday issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook the country's northeast, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

time to read

1 min

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

LTFRB cracks down on unreasonable cancellation of bookings by TNVS drivers

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has tightened its grip on ride-hailing operations by penalizing “strategic” booking cancellations, usually done by Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers avoiding short trips, heavy traffic, or nonprofitable routes.

time to read

1 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Bicameral hearings for budget start today

The Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or the national budget for 2026 start today, Dec. 13, with contingents from the House of Representatives and Senate convening to harmonize the differing provisions of their respective versions.

time to read

1 min

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Marcos welcomes new Chile, China ambassadors

President Marcos received the credentials of Chile and China's newly designated ambassadors, emphasizing the Philippines' intent to strengthen longstanding partnerships while managing sensitive issues with transparency and diplomacy.

time to read

1 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Remolona rejects off-cycle rate cut

Even as the local economy is expected to fare worse than the four-percent expansion in the third quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that slashing the freshly lowered key interest rate by 50 basis points (bps) could signal desperation on the part of monetary authorities, which could further erode confidence.

time to read

2 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Thailand's Parliament is dissolved for new elections early next year

Thailand's Parliament was dissolved Friday for new elections early next year in a country engaged in deadly fighting with Cambodia.

time to read

2 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Air Supply's secret to career longevity: Surround yourself with good people

Maintaining a partnership for five decades, especially in the music industry, inevitably involves ups and downs and moments of rejection.

time to read

2 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Green energy leads P26-B BOI approvals

The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved a new batch of projects worth P26.43 billion for government incentives, as the agency races to hit its target of P1.75 trillion in investments for the year.

time to read

2 mins

December 13, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

US and Japan hold joint flight drills as China ups military activity near Japan

U.S. strategic bombers joined a fleet of Japanese fighter jets in a joint military exercise meant to demonstrate their military cooperation around Japan's airspace, defense officials said Thursday, as tensions with China escalate.

time to read

2 mins

December 13, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size