MANILA – The Sandiganbayan cleared on Friday former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. of plunder charges in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF, or “pork barrel”) scam.
Its Special First Division composed of five justices ruled via majority vote to acquit Revilla from the P224.5-million plunder case.
While Revilla was found not guilty, his co-accused – alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and Richard Cambe, Revilla’s former staffer – were convicted of plunder. The conviction comes with reclusion perpetua, or at least 20 years of imprisonment.
The acquittal of Revilla and the conviction of Napoles and Cambe marked the first-ever decision in what was arguably the biggest corruption scandal to hit Philippine politics in recent history.
Voting in favor of Revilla’s acquittal were associate justices Geraldine Faith Econg, Edgardo Caldona and Georgina Hidalgo, while those who voted against it were justices Efren dela Cruz and Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta.
In solidarity Revilla, Napoles and Cambe must return P124.5 million to the National Treasury, the anti-graft court’s special court ruled.
In the dispositive portion of the 120-page order, the Sandiganbayan said Revilla was acquitted after the prosecution failed to prove that the former senator was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The special court’s decision will now be deemed final and executory. Ombudsman Menardo Guevarra ordered his office not to appeal the verdict.
In an ambush interview Revilla, who had been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame for four years, welcomed his acquittal.
“This is a vindication on my part,” Revilla said. “Since the start of this case naman sinasabi ko na na wala akong kasalanan so I really expect this acquittal.”
Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra said the Sandiganbayan had no other choice but to acquit the former senator.
“(Revilla) cannot be held liable for insufficiency of evidence,” Esguerra said. “There should also be no civil liability (paying of P124 million to the National Treasury) if there is no criminal liability.”
The case against Revilla stemmed from his alleged allocation of P224 million from his PDAF to bogus nongovernment organizations created by Napoles.
While acquitted from plunder, Revilla remained charged with 16 counts of graft, which were still undergoing trial. On Friday he posted a P480,000 bail bond for these charges.
Revilla was one of the three senators arrested and detained over the controversial scam. Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile had been out on bail.
Malacañang urged the public to respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court “has performed its constitutional duty of dispensing justice.”
“We have to bow down to the judgment of the Sandiganbayan,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said. “While justice grinds so slow most of the time, it does grind, and when it stops it renders a verdict that is exacting, immutable.”
“We have consistently respected the independence of the judiciary and we will continue to do so in this case as we implement the final orders of the anti-graft court on the matter,” he added.
Meanwhile opposition senator Francis Pangilinan criticized the Sandiganbayan for acquitting Revilla but convicting Napoles when he said both were involved in the scam.
“Paano naging guilty ang nanuhol pero not guilty ang sinuhulan? Mahirap unawain ang naging pasya,” Pangilinan said. “Ang pinababalik na P124 million ay makakapagpasweldo ng 248,000 na minimum wage earners sa isang araw.”/PN
