Revilla lawyers to present PNoy, Gloria during plunder trial

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyers of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. will be presenting President Benigno Aquino III, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and some of members of the Cabinet during the plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan.

In a pre-trial brief submitted to the Sandiganbayan 1st Division, the defense lawyers said they will also call to testify Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas II, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Commission of Audit chairman Grace Pulido-Tan.

Revilla's lawyers also said in the pre-trial brief that they will also call in the Senate President or his representative and former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to take the stand.

The senator's team is planning to present at total of 27 witnesses during the court proceedings.

Revilla is facing plunder and 16 counts of graft cases before the Sandiganbayan 1st Division for allegedly pocketing over P224 million in kickbacks in endorsement of projects funded by his pork barrel through fake non-government organizations of businesswoman Janet Napoles.

Aside from Revilla and Napoles, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile are also facing plunder and grafts cases before the Sandiganbayan.

The three senators have been detained at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame while Napoles is being held at another police camp, Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna province.