FILE PHOTO: Former Senator Bong Revilla Jr.

CAVITE, Philippines – In December 2017, the Sandiganbayan acquitted former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. of plunder over his involvement in the multi-billion pork barrel scam.

Likewise, the anti-graft court ordered the former senator to return P124.5 million of civil liabilities to the National Treasury.

According to Revilla’s legal counsel, Atty. Reody Anthony Balisi, the dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan’s decision was clear that only those found guilty were required to return the amount — in Revilla’s case, it should be Janet Lim Napoles and Revilla’s former aide Richard Cambe.

“All those who are criminally liable are civilly liable. So with these qualification in the dispositive portion of the decision of the Sandiganbayan, you apply the Article 100, base on the discussion above is Senator Bong criminally liable? He is not,” Balisi explained.

“Therefore, if you apply Article 100 then he cannot be said to have a civil liability since he is not criminally liable. There is no basis for any civil liability. There is no basis for him to return to the national treasury solidarily liable or jointly liable the amount of P124.5 million,” he added.

Revilla’s wife, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado, supports this argument and maintained that her husband has no obligation to return the said amount.

“Siya naman po ay acquitted so I don’t think that particular item has applied on him. According to our legal team hindi po ganoon,” Mercado said.

The former senator, meanwhile, maintained that he did not steal anything from the people’s money and that everything he has as a citizen he earned from years of being an actor prior to his entry to national politics.

“Lahat po ng mayroon ako ay bunga ng aking dugo at pawis sa pag aartista. Simula pa lang noong ako ay sampung taong gulang. Sa mga panahong karamihan ay natutulog pa, ako po ay kumakayod na para kumita at iyan nga ang napatunayan ng hukuman na wala akong ninakaw ni sentimo mula sa taumbayan,” he said.

Despite the controversies hounding her husband, Mercado said she appreciates that Revilla remains among the top 10 senatorial candidates in current surveys.

Based on the latest survey by the Social Weather Station (SWS), Revilla ranked seventh.

“Ako po ay lubusang nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng sumusuporta’t tumatangkilik sa kaniya bagamat maraming naganap noong nakaraan, ang tiwala ng tao at pagmamahal ay sa kanya pa rin,” she said.

Since the former senator’s acquittal, the Revilla family has been enjoying a normal life, according to Mercado. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Benedict Samson)

Tags: plunder, pork barrel scam, Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr

FILE PHOTO: Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — The court has spoken, and as its co-equal branch in government, Malacañang abides by the decision of Sandiganbayan anti-graft court to acquit former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. of plunder charges, and convict his former staff, Richard Cambe and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles in relation to the pork barrel scam.

This was the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on the recent ruling of Sandiganbayan on the plunder case of Revilla, Napoles and Cambe in connection with the alleged misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Panelo added that the judiciary performed its constitutional duty of delivering justice.

“While justice grinds so slow most of the time, it does grind, and when it stops it renders a verdict that is exacting immutable,” he said.

Panelo assured that the Executive Branch will continue to respect the independence of the judiciary and will “implement the final orders of the anti-graft court on the matter.”

He added that either camp may still file an appeal and “pursue remedies available under our procedural laws.”

“In any event, this administration takes stock of the lessons learned from cases involving unconstitutional discretionary funds and has implemented measures to ensure the integrity of the national budget and its proper utilization for our people,” Panelo said. — UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: acquitted, Bong Revilla, plunder, pork barrel scam

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said he is prepared to accept the explanation of the Marcos family after they expressed willingness to return to the government the gold bars currently in their possession.

The said gold bars were initially believed to be part of the Marcos’ family’s ill-gotten wealth.

This has been the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte when he led the mass oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed officials of the government on Tuesday afternoon.

“They [Marcoses] said they’ll open everything and probably return whatever is found,” said Duterte.

“It’s not big, ‘But we are ready to open and bring back even a few gold bars’ he said, ” the president quoted an unnamed spokesperson for the Marcoses.

Duterte added he is looking for individuals with good reputation who can handle the negotiation with the Marcoses.

Meanwhile, the chief executive has once again criticized the Office of the Ombudsman for what he claimed as its “selective justice”.

The president cited as example the lawmakers facing cases involving the pork barrel scam.

He noted, these lawmakers are all members of the opposition of the previous administration.

The president said he is hoping that in the remaining time of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the agency, she would be able to implement the real mandate of the institution.

“The Office of the Ombudsman has mastered the art of selective justice. Harsh on some, soft on others, even when they all suffer from similar and analogous circumstances. Slow to act on complaints against the friendly, but  quick to decide against perceived hostiles. The enemy of the Ombudsman’s friend is the Ombudsman’s enemy too, so it seems,” Duterte said.

The president also took the opportunity to defend his son in law,  Mans Carpio, the husband of his daughter Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte.

This is after Mans’ alleged visit to the Bureau of Customs, and who is now also being linked to corruption in the agency.

Duterte said his son-in-law is a lawyer and has been representing big clients like Mighty King even before it became Mighty Corp.

“Siyempre piliin mo ‘yung kliyenteng may pera (of course, you should choose clients with money). Pero sabi ko, kung hanggang diyan, OK lang ( But I said, if its only limited to that, it’s okay). It’s lawyering. Nobody can question us and even I, when as a matter of fact it is just part of our profession, our vocation as a lawyer.  Alam naman natin ’yang mga abogado (As lawyers, we all know that), ” he added.  – Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue

Tags: Mans Carpio, marcos, Marcos’ family’s ill-gotten wealth, Ombudsman, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, pork barrel scam, President Rodrigo Duterte