Retired Senator Juan Ponce Enrile . INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
The Supreme Court has reaffirmed an earlier decision granting bail to retired Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in connection with his involvement in the alleged spending of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) for ghost projects.
READ: SC upholds ruling granting bail to Enrile
SC spokesman Theodore Te said the high court, voting 7-6-1 stated that 鈥渢he people were not kept in the dark about nor were they denied a reasonable opportunity to rebut the instability of his health and his advanced age鈥︹��
The high court affirmed its decision聽on August 18, 2015, granting Enrile鈥檚 petition with a vote of 8-4.
The decision reversed the Sandiganbayan Third Division鈥檚 ruling, which denied his bail plea.
Te said the majority of the high court denied claims by petitioner Office of Solicitor General 鈥渢hat there was preferential treatment鈥� given to Enrile because he was a Senator.
鈥淩ather, the majority emphasized that the grant of bail was due to petitioner鈥檚 health condition, which was sufficiently proven,鈥� said Te in a briefing聽on Tuesday.
The high court decision also said that 鈥渢he petitioner (referring to Enrile) had shown himself not to be a flight risk primarily due to his health condition.鈥�
Enrile, 92 years old,聽has posted a P1.45-million bail in the Sandiganbayan where he faces criminal charges of graft.
READ: SC grants Enrile bid for bail
PDAF scam whistleblower Benhur Luy earlier said Enrile received P172.8 million in kickbacks from Janet Lim Napoles, who referred to Enrile as 鈥淭anda鈥� in the use of codenames. TVJ