Two years since his charges were filed before the Sandiganbayan, the plunder trial of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is finally set to start in January next year.
This after the Sandiganbayan First Division concluded the pre-trial hearing of Revilla’s plunder case, after the defense and prosecution panels wrapped up the marking of documentary evidence and of the list of witnesses to be presented during trial proper.
The court set the trial proper starting Jan. 12, 2017 every Thursday for two sessions per day, 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., or for one whole day of trial proceeding.
Meanwhile, the prosecutors and defense have yet to wrap up the pre-trial proceedings on Revilla’s 16 counts of graft cases.
During the pre-trial, both parties would prepare for the conduct of the trial proper, including the marking of exhibits, stipulation of facts, identification of issues, and identification of the number of dates each party needs for presentation of evidence.
Revilla has been denied bail by the antigraft court in his trial for plunder for his alleged dealings with Janet Lim-Napoles to implement his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) on ghost projects for kickbacks.
Revilla has elevated his bail plea before the Supreme Court, which earlier granted the bail petition of fellow accused former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on humanitarian grounds.
Revilla surrendered and was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in 2014. He is accused of pocketing P224.5 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel.
Also detained for plunder is Revilla’s colleague, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was denied bail as he stands accused of pocketing P183.7 million kickbacks. Enrile, now out on bail, is accused of receiving P172.8 million kickbacks.
Their plunder and graft charges were filed with the Sandiganbayan by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in June 2014. CDG/rga
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