BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said he does not plan to leave the country.
He also said he already “expected” the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against him by the Sandiganbayan first division.
Revilla, along with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, faces graft and plunder charges before the anti-graft court for his supposed involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.
“It was expected, especially when they (Sandiganbayan) issued the same order to Senator Jinggoy on Monday,” Revilla said yesterday.
Estrada has also declared he is not leaving the country and will face the charges filed against him.
The son of former President Joseph Estrada stressed that the Sandiganbayan issuance of HDO against him “does not matter.”
“As I have said over and over, I will face the accusations against me,” he said.
With Revilla, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, Richard Cambe, Ronald John Lim and Raymund de Asis were also prohibited from traveling abroad.
On Monday, Pauline Labayen, Estrada’s former staff, was also barred from leaving the country.
A day after his privilege speech last week, Revilla started visiting different barangays to defend himself against the many allegations hurled against him.
The senator, however, denied he is already working on his campaign for the 2016 Presidential Elections.
Revilla has been vocal about his plan to run for the highest government seat in the next polls.
Also yesterday, the Sandiganbayan third division issued an HDO against Enrile and several co-accused.
The third division is chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, with Associate Justices Samuel Martires and Alex Quiroz as members.
The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Revilla with one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft; Enrile with one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft; and Estrada with one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft./PN
