MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan First Division ordered the release of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. from detention, as it approved his posting of bail hours after his acquittal from plunder charges.
With this, the warrant of arrest it issued against Revilla last June 19, 2014 was “recalled and further declared no force and effect”.
However, a copy of the decision should first reach the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), before Revilla is allowed to leave the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City where he has been detained since 2014.
Revilla earlier posted a bail of P480,000, or P30,000 for each of the 16 cases of graft still filed against him before the anti-graft court.
The plunder charge against the actor-turned-politican stemmed from allegations he pocketed money from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was still senator. Revilla allegedly allocated P224 million to fictitious non-government organizations owned by pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
Napoles and Revilla’s chief of staff Atty. Richard Cambe were found guilty of plunder, and will each serve a sentence of reclusion perpetua. /kga
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READ: Full copy of Sandiganbayan ruling on Bong Revilla acquittal