MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Thursday denied that Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was a “trophy” and that the dismissal of his bail petition was influenced by the executive.
“The government respects the judicial processes. We respect the integrity of the judiciary as a separate and co-equal branch and the accusation has no basis,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a Palace briefing.
Coloma insisted that Malacañang “have not in any time interfered in the processes of justice.”
He also emphasized that the dismissal of Revilla’s bail petition was just the start.
“The bail hearing is only the first phase of the process of obtaining justice for the alleged misuse of public funds,” Coloma said.
Coloma said they wanted to “see the full fruition of the process.”
Revilla, who is facing plunder and graft charges for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, claimed that there were “unseen hands” that meddled in the bail hearing.
“The decision was very different from what we had expected. It’s really disheartening. Malacañang wants me to be its trophy,” Revilla had said.
Revilla was expecting to be allowed to post bail so he could spend Christmas with his family.
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