Revilla, Napoles appeal bail denial

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and alleged pork barrel fund scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles are appealing to the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its earlier decision denying their petitions for bail.

Both called on the anti-graft court’s First Division chaired by Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz to reverse its Dec. 2 ruling and grant them temporary liberty while undergoing trial for plunder.

The Sandiganbayan denied Revilla, Napoles and Richard Cambe’s petitions for bail after ombudsman lawyers presented sufficient evidence to justify the continued detention of the accused.

Revilla maintains the Sandiganbayan committed an error in saying there is strong evidence against him and that he had amassed ill-gotten wealth in a conspiracy with his co-accused through the receipt of kickbacks or commissions from bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) linked to Napoles where his pork barrel funds were channeled.

Revilla, currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center, insists his signatures were forged and there is no evidence indicating he received so-called rebates in exchange for priority development assistance fund (PDAF) allocations.

Revilla asked the Sandiganbayan’s First Division to allow him to present more witnesses to further prove his innocence and that his signatures in all documents pertaining to his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam are fake.

Napoles, for her part, maintained she is a private individual who should not be charged with plunder, considering the prosecution allegedly failed to prove that she conspired with public officials in committing the crime.

Her cousin, Benhur Luy, on the other hand, believes otherwise.

Luy became the prime witness against Napoles since he worked as her former trusted employee and is familiar with the dealings of his cousin.

Luy’s testimony led to the prosecution of Napoles and several government officials, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Revilla.

Luy urged the public to continuously pray for the whistle-blowers like him as they are up against the wall.

“Pray for us because we don’t know where this may lead,” Luy said.

“May the accused be converted and realize that they’re not really the powerful ones,” he added.

Solicitor guard

A security guard of the Sandiganbayan was ordered suspended by the Supreme Court (SC) for allegedly soliciting cash from a lawyer of Napoles for a supposed Christmas party.

Security Guard 1 Ronald Alan Gole Cruz is under investigation for administrative charges initiated through a sworn information report filed by his fellow security officers who denounced his acts.

The SC said the incident report submitted by security officers Darwin Trinidad and Rodelio Lalongisip appears to be sufficient in form and substance. – Michael Punongbayan, Aie Balagtas See