Exorcise ‘ghosts’ from trial, Bong Revilla asks

Former Sen. Bong Revilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to cut out the evidence of ghost projects from the discussion for being “irrelevant and immaterial” to his plunder trial.

Since Revilla is accused of getting P224.5-million in kickbacks through his endorsement of  the nongovernment organizations of Janet Lim-Napoles, his camp questioned the necessity of threshing out the issue of whether his pet projects were implemented.

Although trial is tentatively set to start on Thursday, the court’s First Division is still soliciting the comments of the parties for the pretrial order to guide the presentation of evidence and issues. —Vince F. Nonato