Revilla files 3rd plea to halt plunder case
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. asked the Supreme Court to stop the Sandiganbayan from hearing the plunder and graft case filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the pork barrel scam.
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla PHOTO/INQUIRER.net
In an 81-page petition for certiorari, Revilla, through counsel, is seeking to nullify the findings of probable cause by the Ombudsman that led to the filing of charges against him.
Revilla’s counsel Joel Bodegon said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the joint resolution dated March 28, 2014 that has found probable cause to charge him with plunder.
He added that his rights to due process have been violated when the Ombudsman denied his request that he be given copies of evidence against him so he can properly air his side.
The Ombudsman said his defences are better presented at a full blown trial.
“The Ombudsman violated Senator Revilla’s fundamental constitutional rights to due process and to confront the accusations against him. Such rights are not mere rights ‘he believed in’ but are rights that are guaranteed in the Philippine Constitution,” Revilla’s pleading stated.
Revilla also argued that the Ombudsman has no basis to charge him with plunder citing the case of former President now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada where the anti-graft court said that in order to be held liable for the crime of plunder, it must be shown that the public officer amassed ill-gotten wealth worth at least P50 million.
“Indeed, the assailed resolutions do not even have a proof that Senator Revilla has the qualifying amount of P50 million in his possession or in his bank account, much less proof that any money that is in his possession has been acquired unlawfully,” the petition stated.
Revilla said a restraining order is necessary because he is under threat of being suspended from office, worst, provisionally detained pending trial without bail as plunder is a non-bailable offense.
“Even as he is entitled to file petition for bail, Senator Revilla would have to be detained until he is permitted bail after the bail hearing. The period of his suspension, and, worse, his provisional detention pending resolution of his bail petition, means that he would not be able to perform his duties as a Senator for all the time of his provisional detention,” Revilla added.
This is the third petition filed by Revilla before the Supreme Court.
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