FILE PHOTO: Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.: “I can move forward.” (Screengrab/ Senate PRIB)
Updated 4:50 p.m.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla on Monday praised the Sandiganbayan’s decision clearing him of charges related to the so-called pork barrel scam and said he can now move on “free of this nuisance.”
“The truth has come out,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Now, I can move forward to serving our nation and our people even further, free of this nuisance.”
“The Sandiganbayan, by granting our Demurrer to Evidence and dismissing all the charges against me, validates what we have known from the very beginning – that all the accusations against me have no basis and any leg to stand on,” he added.
In its decision, the Sandiganbayan Special First Division granted Revilla’s demurrer to evidence and acquitted the senator of 16 counts of graft.
“Nakita po ng Korte na walang basehan ang mga akusasyon sa akin. Hindi ko na nga kinailangan pang depensahan ang aking sarili at magbigay ng aming ebidensya. Sa mga isinumite pa lamang ng prosekusyon ay wala silang napatunayan,” the senator also said.
(The Court found that the accusations against me were unfounded. Defending myself and providing evidence is no longer necessary. In itself, the prosecution’s submission did not prove anything.)
“I am not, and never have been involved in graft and corruption. This is the reason why I did not run; I did not hide; and did not evade the judicial system. I put my trust and my life in our Courts,” he added.
The senator recalled facing “everything head-on,” claiming bad politics sullied his image.
“Sa kabila ng pagwasak sa aking pangalan at pagkatao, hinarap kong lahat ng buong-buo dahil alam kong hindi mababago ang katotohanang ako ay naging biktima lamang ng masamang pulitika,” he said.
(Despite all efforts to discredit my name or reputation, I faced them knowing it would not change the truth that I had fallen victim to bad politics.)
Cases against Revilla’s former aide, Richard Cambe, were also dismissed by the Sandiganbayan because of death.
Sandiganbayan also cleared Revilla of plunder in the pork barrel scam in December 2018.