Sandiganbayan summons bank execs for Revilla bail hearings

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday summoned executives of banks to testify during the bail hearings of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.

The Sandiganbayan's 1st Division, chaired by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, issued the subpoenas on the bank executives of BDO Unibank Inc., Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, United Coconut Planters Bank, and Land Bank of the Philippines.

The anti-graft court also instructed the banks officials to bring along with them bank records of the transactions made by pork barrel scam whistleblowers, including Benhur Luy, Merlina Sunas, and Marina Sula.

Aside from Revilla, businesswoman Janet Napoles, alleged brains of the scam; Revilla's former chief of staff, Richard Cambe are also facing plunder charges before the tribunal over the multi-billion peso racket involving the priority development assistance fund of legislators.

The lawyers of the accused in the plunder case have asked the Court for the conduct of the bail hearings in a bid to prove their contention that the evidence against them are weak.