Sandigan junks bail petitions of Revilla’s co-accused

MANILA, Philippines - Because they have chosen to be fugitives from justice instead of turning themselves in, the Sandiganbayan yesterday junked the petitions for bail of two of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s co-accused in the plunder case filed against them by the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged roles in the so-called pork barrel fund scam.

First Division magistrates headed by Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz denied the motions filed by Ronald John Lim and John Raymond de Asis for their failure to surrender and submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the anti-graft court.

Since both opted to remain at large, the Sandiganbayan found no reason to even consider their petitions for bail filed only through their lawyers.

Lim, a nephew of principal accused Janet Lim Napoles, and De Asis, allegedly her driver and aide, are fellow respondents to the P224.7-million plunder charge that Revilla is now facing.

Sandiganbayan executive clerk of court Renato Bocar said earlier that those who have already been ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan’s First and Fifth Divisions but have failed to surrender or have not been arrested might be considered as fugitives.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s former deputy chief of staff Pauline Labayen, who also remains at large, is also being considered as a fugitive after the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group failed to arrest her at her home in Parañaque City.

Both senators and Napoles, on the other hand, have already been taken into custody and arraigned by the anti-graft court.  

Their petitions seeking to challenge the Office of the Ombudsman’s evidence against them have been granted by the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court has scheduled bail hearings beginning July 10 and every Thursday thereafter.

Don’t talk to the media

The anti-graft court in a hearing yesterday warned Revilla’s lawyers led by Joel Bodegon against giving their opinions on the plunder and graft cases before the media.

Justice De la Cruz said the anti-graft court is “not happy” with what the lawyers have been saying to reporters after hearings are held.

“We are not happy about it when you give your opinions after the hearings,” the magistrate told Bodegon, reminding the lawyer that talking about the merits of the case outside court could be deemed a violation of the subjudice rule.

De la Cruz said the Sandiganbayan wants to be fair to all parties, referring to how ombudsman lawyers do not give media interviews after the proceedings.

Associate Justice Rafael Lagos advised Bodegon to argue the merits of the cases inside the courtroom.

Ombudsman lawyers also got their share of scolding from Sandiganbayan magistrates on the issue of the graft cases filed against Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.

Lagos questioned the differences in the Office of the Ombudsman’s Joint Resolution finding probable cause to indict the Department of Budget and Management official and the actual criminal charges or complaints filed.

During the preliminary investigation, records showed Relampagos prepared the Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) but in the criminal complaints, the same was changed to Sub-Allotment Release Orders (Sub-ARO) and Notices of Cash Allocations.

When prosecutors failed to explain the differences promptly, Lagos chided them for not being prepared and not being able to explain their allegations contained in the graft charges.

“I find it disturbing that Relampagos signed the SAROs but your allegation was that he signed the Sub-AROs,” Lagos told the prosecutors.

The prosecution, in order to answer the issue in detail, was eventually given five days to file a written comment to which the defense has another five days to reply before the issue is deemed submitted for ruling.

The police, on the other hand, also got a dressing down with the relief of the chief of the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police in ignoring the strict visitation rules for detention inmates.

Superintendent Mario Malana was relieved as chief of the PNP Custodial Center for allowing Senators Estrada and Revilla to ignore the strict visiting hours last weekend.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, director of the PNP-Headquarters Support Service, ordered the relief of Malana after failing to clear the detention cells of Revilla and Estrada of friends and relatives on Sunday after the 3 p.m. deadline.

“This is a result of the pre-charge investigation which found probable cause in the case of less grave neglect of duty filed against him,” PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said.

The PNP ordered Malana to submit a written explanation over reports the two senators hosted a party inside their detention facility on Sunday. Some of the visitors reportedly left the detention cell at 2 a.m.

Before an explanation could be made, a written manifesto signed by 55 of 75 inmates was sent to reporters expressing support for Malana.

But instead of helping Malana, Estipona took this against him. He said each detainee is supposed to be locked up, making it extremely suspicious how they were able to come up with a written manifesto.

For the meantime, the Custodial Center is being prepared to take into custody another senator pending his arrest.

Policemen have been deployed around the entrances of the PNP General Hospital, where Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile could be ordered detained. The hospital is several meters away from the Custodial Center where Estrada and Revilla are locked up. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe