Revilla must present counter evidence on PDAF raps: Sandiganbayan

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla (screenshot from YouTube footage)

MANILA— The Sandiganbayan ruled on Thursday that detained former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. must still present his own evidence on his plunder case involving the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” scam.

The court junked Revilla’s motion to allow his camp to contest the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence in his plunder case.

Sandiganbayan First Division Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz made the order after he and Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Reynaldo Cruz deliberated on the merits of Revilla’s motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence.

“The court is of the view that there is a need for the accused to present evidence.

Therefore, the motions for leave are hereby denied,” Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz said the defense could still file their demurrer to evidence if they wish to do so.

Aside from Revilla’s motion, the same motions of alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and former Revilla aide Richard Cambe were also denied.

Napoles is the alleged “brains” behind the PHP10-billion pork barrel and the PHP900-million Malampaya fund scams.