MANILA, Philippines — It’s perhaps the unlikeliest of relationships. She was a student activist in her college days at the University of the Philippines (UP), while he was the Defence Minister who implemented Martial Law under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
His marriage of 55 years has borne two adult children linked to past controversies, while her marriage, known to have ended, has produced 3 kids, none of whom have been publicly controversial. She is 30 years younger than the man she calls “The Boss,” an intelligent and astute politician who has survived many political upheavals, including rebellion charges against him.
Abrasive and cutting as he wishes, most especially to political enemies, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile or JPE has a “special fondness” for his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, say those who’ve been in the Senate for decades.
On past occasions, they add, they’ve seen Enrile give Reyes a hug and a buss on the forehead. He values her loyalty, for sure, as well as her professional competence. Gigi Reyes was regarded as “the door, if not the bridge, to JPE.”
But at least twice, JPE tried to dispel notions that there was anything more than a professional relationship between them. In January 2013, during an interview on television, he said, “If they’re implying that she’s my girlfriend, well, I’m too old for that, my God!”
That was in reaction to insinuations made in a privilege speech by fellow senator Alan Peter Cayetano about a relationship between Enrile and his then chief of staff. Cayetano’s speech was in retaliation for Reyes’ accusations of hypocrisy against him for supposedly receiving a “cash gift” from the Office of the Senate President. The ugly incident ended with an apology and the irrevocable resignation of Reyes from Enrile’s office.
Before that, the first public denial came way back in 1998 when the Chicago Tribune reported that Enrile’s wife Cristina left him after she could no longer tolerate his “alleged tryst with a top aide.”
In a statement, Enrile said in 1998, “What is totally false and malicious are the reports in the press and the rumor mills that the cause of our marital difficulties is an alleged relationship between me and my Chief of Staff, lawyer Gigi Reyes. There is no relationship, other than an official and professional one.”
The issue
The issue would not have mattered, nor would it have been of public interest, were it not for plunder charges involving the alleged misuse by lawmakers — including Enrile — of billions of pesos from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Reyes was also among the respondents named in the complaint filed by the justice department before the Office of the Ombudsman on September 16.
She is accused of signing documents that facilitated the release of Enrile’s PDAF to fake non-governmental organizations (NGOs) linked to Janet Lim Napoles, the woman said to be behind the intricate web of corruption and deception involving pork barrel funds.
In an affidavit submitted by Merlina Suñas, among the witnesses in the PDAF scam, Reyes is mentioned as being among the recipients of commissions given by Napoles to legislators and their staff.
“The commission of Atty. Gigi Reyes is given by Madame Jenny [Napoles] to Fernando Ramirez or John Raymund de Asis to be delivered to the house of Atty. Reyes herself.”
When Enrile’s lawyer Enrique de la Cruz defended his client, saying the former Senate president “never authorized anyone to enter into an illegal transaction. If they did, it’s outside their authority and they should be held responsible,” many took notice. It signalled that Reyes was going to be left hung to dry.
Obviously hurt by Dela Cruz’s pronouncement, interpreted as having been made with the blessings of Enrile, Reyes spoke about “travesty and betrayal” in a September 21 post on her Facebook page. In all capital letters, she wrote, “the worst blow has just been dealt upon me by no less than the camp of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the man I served with full dedication, honesty and loyalty for 25 years.”
The following day, emerging from a 4-day hospitalization, Enrile made an appearance in the Senate and said, “I am not out to betray any of my people. I’ve never been known for that.” It was as if “The Boss” and his loyal staff were communicating with each other through the media.
Described as “charming with a high EQ [emotional quotient],” Reyes graduated from the UP College of Law in 1987. Regarded as “one of the boys” back then, she became vice chair of the UP Arts and Sciences student council. “She is the sort of person who will protect her principal but will not do anything against his interest or without his permission,” said one who knew her. “Whatever she did had the blessings of JPE.” – with Marites D. Vitug (Rappler.com)