Motions for bail of Revilla, Napoles, Cambe, junked by Sandiganbayan

Shutterstock photo

MANILA, Philippines— The Sandiganbayan denied on Tuesday the motions for bail filed by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.; alleged mastermind, Janet Lim-Napoles; and purported bagman Richard Cambe. The three petitioned for bail almost four months ago, relative to their in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

The motions were thrown out by the graft court on account of the prosecution’s being able to establish strong evidence of guilt of Revilla, Napoles, and Cambe. All three are currently detained on charges of plunder, which is actually a non-bailable offense.

In its 71-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan said: “In fine, the prosecution has duly established that there exists strong evidence that accused Revilla, Cambe and Napoles, in conspiracy with one another, committed the capital offense of plunder… and are thus not entitled to the constitutional right to bail. However, the court cautions that such conclusion shall not be regarded as a prejudgment on the merits of the case that are to be determined only after a full blown trial.”

State prosecutor Joefferson Torribio, in his summation at November 20’s closing hearing, said that “with all documentary evidence and testimonies, we’ve not only presented high probability but the accused can be charged for plunder and that our evidence is overwhelming.”

“This case before us represents the biggest corruption scandal in our country in 2013,” he noted.