Court asked to void freeze order vs Revilla’s accounts

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan was asked to recall the resolution aiming to freeze Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s bank accounts, real estate properties and other assets that are subject of the plunder case filed against him.

Revilla’s lawyers are now asking the court to junk the resolution issued on Feb. 5.

In a motion for reconsideration, Revilla’s camp said that the resolution on the issuance of preliminary attachment issued by the Sandiganbayan was already tantamount to prejudgment.

The motion stated that the court’s move violates Revilla’s right to presumption of innocence and the right to equal protection.

According to the motion, the senator “was already penalized without the benefit of a full blown trial.”

“With the issuance of a writ of attachment, this Honorable Court has effectively declared all of Senator Revilla’s properties ill-gotten without affording him his constitutional right to due process of law,” the motion said.

The motion also said that the writ issued was in connection to a plunder charge and not a civil case for forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth.