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

MANILA — The graft case against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Janet Napoles in line with the pork barrel scam is set to begin in September.

Early on Monday, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division has concluded the pre-trial of the case after the defense and prosecution sides agree on documentary evidences.

The court has set the trial on the graft case on September 4 while the plunder case against the two will be heard on June 19.

The case stemmed from Estrada’s alleged amassing of more than P183-million kickback from his pork barrel fund. — UNTV News & Rescue

WATCH: Several lawmakers might go to jail once Janet Napoles speaks – Sen. Lacson

Tags: Janet Napoles, Jinggoy Estrada, PDAF, PDAF SCAM, pork barrel, pork barrel scam