SC orders Ombusdman, NBI to answer Bong's plea

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court Third Division on Thursday ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to comment on Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.'s petition to suspend its preliminary investigation on the plunder complaint against him.

The high court also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and complainant Atty. Levito Baligod to submit their response within 10 days.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales had junked Revilla's motion last January after finding no "prejudicial question" to stop the probe.

Revilla faces a multi-billlion peso plunder complaint for allegedly pocketing part of his Priority Development Assistance Funds using Janet Lim Napoles' bogus non-government organizations.

In his earlier motion before the Ombudsman, Revilla also filed plunder complaints against scam whistleblowers Benhur Luy and two others.

The Ombudsman likewise junked the countercharge for its similarity to the NBI's plunder and malversation case against him and 27 others including Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile. - Camille Diola