Dubbed by the gossips in the Senate as the "24th senator," Jessica Lucila 'Gigi' Gonzales-Reyes signs checks in the millions on behalf of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and issues memos to Senate functionaries involving the funds of the chamber.
Enrile's chief of staff also is allowed in the exclusive Senate lounge to hobnob with the senators. She also attends Senate caucuses where she "can speak her mind and join the discussion," Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said in his privilege speech Wednesday. Reyes' brother, Patrick, also works in the office of the Senate President. Cayetano said to get to Enrile, you have to go through Gigi or Patrick.
So, who's this Gigi Reyes, and why was she the star of Cayetano's privilege speech?
The Chicago Tribune reported 15 years ago that Enrile's wife Cristina walked out on him in January 1998 after charging adultery. The Tribune also reported that the "other woman" was Gigi Gonzales-Reyes, Enrile's chief of staff, about 30 years his junior. Full Story
