Revilla: Ombudsman shows ‘grave abuse of discretion’

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s camp said it was taken aback by Ombudsman Conchita  Carpio-Morales “brazenness” in “hastily resolving” the preliminary investigation against the senator.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

“We still have a pending petition for Certiorari with the Supreme Court (SC) against the Ombudsman for exercising grave abuse of its discretion,” Revilla’s  lawyer, Joel Bodegon, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“In fact, oral arguments on that petition were supposed to be held today, but were moved back by the Court to April 22,” he said.

Bodegon was reacting to the Ombudsman’s decision to file charges against Revilla and others involved  in the  so-called P10 billion “pork barrel” scam.

“This act of the Ombudsman is an affront to the jurisdiction and authority of the SC, which we pray the Court will not let pass,” the lawyer said.

“This act of the Ombudsman, which clearly demonstrates grave abuse of discretion, is an attempt to render our petition with the SC moot and academic.”

“But that cannot be the case.  We believe that the Court will act to protect its integrity and demand respect that is due it, against this incursion by the Ombudsman, and resolve our petition on its merits and void the Ombudsman’s actions,” Bodegon said.

The Ombudsman, he said,  could not escape its grave abuse of discretion by ignoring the matter pending with SC and assert mootness as a result of their unilateral act.

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