Revilla wants Aquino at witness stand in ‘pork’ scam trial

President Benigno S. Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The defense panel of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. wants President Benigno Aquino III to take the witness stand in the lawmaker’s pork barrel scam case before the Sandiganbayan.

This is according to the pre-trial brief submitted by Revilla’s camp before the anti-graft court on Wednesday.

Among the other personalities Revilla wants as witnesses are: Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, former Budget Secretary and now Congressman Rolando Andaya Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, and former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Revilla also wants to call to the witness stand Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Commission on Audit chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan.

Revilla himself also wants to be in the witness stand, according to the motion.

The former movie actor also wants television and movie producers such as those from GMA-7 to take the witness stand.

Revilla’s camp also wants as witnesses members of the special panel of investigators in the Ombudsman, members of the field investigation office of the Ombudsman, and mayors or local chief executives of local government units interviewed by the investigators.

Revilla is facing plunder and graft charges over the pork barrel scam. He surrendered to the police after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

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