Revilla asks SC for his liberty anew
Former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said that his continued detention is a violation of his constitutional rights as an accused. He is facing a multi-million plunder case at the anti-graft court. File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Detained former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. made an appeal to the Supreme Court for his temporary liberty while the Sandiganbayan rule on his cases.
In a seven-page motion filed on March 16, Revilla asked the SC to grant him provisional liberty as he has been detained since June 20, 2014. He said that his detention violates his constitutional rights as an accused.
Revilla was among the three lawmakers charged by the government over their involvement in the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel scam.
He is facing a P224-million plunder case at the Sandiganbayan.
In his manifestation and urgent motion filed before the high court, Revilla said the prosecution presented 5,134 pieces of evidence against him. The Sandiganbayan accepted the said evidence "without a clear identification of the particular 'acts' that are 'overt' and 'criminal' through which petitioner allegedly acquired ill-gotten wealth."
Revilla added: "Petitioner remains unaware which of the 5,134 pieces of evidence was offered to prove, at least the most basic elements of plunder."
The former senator earlier asked the SC to junk his plunder case, but an earlier STAR report said the SC dismissed his bid.
READ: SC junks Revilla plea to dismiss plunder case
Pork barrel cases
Also detained for the PDAF scam were former Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, but they were released through bail.
The high court ordered the release of Enrile on humanitarian grounds, while Estrada was allowed to post bail in September 2017. The latter is currently mulling running for the next elections.
Central to the indictment of the three is Janet Lim-Napoles, believed to be the brain behind the pork barrel scam. She is currently applying to become a state witness in the Department of Justice's reopening of the PDAF scam probe.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has earlier said that the Office of the Ombudsman has final say whether Napoles can be admitted as state witness.
Morales is set to retire in July.
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