Prosecution asks Sandiganbayan to act vs. Bong Revilla’s delaying tactics

Ombudsman prosecutors have appealed to the Sandiganbayan to do something about what they see as delays caused by the repeated arguments of the lawyers of detained former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.

"This Honorable Court is a court of law and noble magistrates. It cannot be hypnotized by accused Revilla's chanting of repeated arguments, which were passed upon by this Honorable Court," the prosecution said in its opposition dated June 5.

Revilla, facing plunder in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam, was supposed to present his defense at the First Division on Thursday. It was, however, delayed for the fifth time since its original setting on January 25.

The latest delay was caused by the urgent motion of lead counsel Estelito Mendoza to require the prosecution to identify the evidence related to the alleged ill-gotten wealth of his client that was amassed by channeling his pork barrel funds to bogus foundations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

Mendoza's motion

In his motion, Mendoza wanted the prosecution to highlight the "body of the crime" in the plunder charge separately from the allegations as to the "heart of the plunder law" so he can prepare their rebuttal properly in court..

"It is fairly obvious that the accused would be unable to do so unless he knows or is aware of the evidence presented by the prosecution and admitted by the Court to prove beyond reasonable doubt the primary elements of the offense of plunder as alleged in the Information," Mendoza said.

"The prosecution hopefully would agree to provide the above information promptly, to enable the accused to prepare the evidence he needs to present, particularly that which would be necessary, if any, to rebut the evidence identify by the prosecution," he added.

Mendoza had long told the Sandiganbayan that the prosecution failed to state the overt criminal acts Revilla allegedly committed regarding the alleged misuse of P224.5 million worth of pork barrel funds.

Mendoza also appealed for numerous deferments due to his pending petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court. He even blamed the quo warranto petition against then-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno behind the delayed ruling of his plea.

The prosecution, in its opposition, seemed to have had enough when it called the motion "very inaccurate, if not misleading" since the camp of Revilla was already aware of the evidence since October when the panel of prosecutors rested its case against him.

"Thus, accused Revilla cannot and should not be allowed to feign ignorance of the aforesaid testimonial and documentary evidences, including this Honorable Court's ruling thereon. Stated clearly, he is well aware of the pieces of evidence he needs to rebut or refute," the prosecution said.

"The present Urgent Motion is, in a way, a circumvention of his Honorable Court's Resolution admitting the documentary evidence of the prosecution, as well as the Resolutions denying accused Revilla's Motion for Leave to File Demurrer to Evidence and Motion for Reconsideration of such denial," it added.

Dental furlough

Meanwhile, Revilla sought Sandiganbayan approval for a dental check-up, oral prophylaxis, and implant cleaning with Dr. Steve Mark Gan on June 18 at 2 p.m.

Revilla, in his motion received on June 11, said the check-up was the result of his follow-up dental routine on April 18.

Division chairperson Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz joked that Revilla may be already having too much dental check-ups already.

"Baka sobrang prophylaxis na 'yan," Dela Cruz said.

The motion has been submitted for resolution.  —KBK, GMA News