Filtered By: Topstories
News

Bong Revilla makes closing arguments in pork scam case


Detained former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has made his closing arguments in his pork barrel scam case, saying the prosecution failed to overcome his presumption of innocence during the four-year trial over his alleged receipt of kickbacks worth P224.5 million.

In his 54-page memorandum filed before the Sandiganbayan First Division, Revilla said the prosecution failed to prove his liability in all elements of the crime of plunder, except the fact that he was a senator.

“No evidence beyond reasonable doubt has been offered and admitted by the Court proving any element of the offense but for one, and that Revilla is a public officer, and that fact is admitted,” Revilla said.

Revilla said the prosecution's main witnesses—whistle-blowers Benhur Luy, Marina Sula, Merlina Sunas, and Mary Arlene Baltazar—were unable to prove that he signed documents related to the release of his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF).

The former lawmaker added the evidence and testimonies from the whistle-blowers failed to authenticate his supposed signature on the endorsement letters allotting his PDAF to the bogus foundations of alleged scheme mastermind Janet Lim Napoles in exchange for his multi-million-peso commission.

Luy, Sunas, and Sula admitted they never saw Revilla sign the endorsement letters during their respective testimonies.

Revilla, through lead defense counsel Estelito Mendoza, banked on Sula's recanting of her testimony in June. She had said it was Luy who forged Revilla's signatures on the documents.

Revilla said this statement from Sula needs “a more demanding evaluation of the evidence to determine whether the guilt of the accused has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.”

"Not any of the prosecution’s witnesses testified that they have seen accused Revilla write, or has acted or been charged with any writing purporting to be the writing of accused Revilla," he said in the memorandum.

Revilla said he was not even asked by the prosecution about his signatures during his cross examination.

He said that Ombudsman prosecutors instead made him confirm if he was the one who affixed his signature to letters he sent to the Department of Budget and Management.

"Of telling significance is that these letters do not involve any endorsement of any NGO, much less, Napoles’ NGOs. Likewise, the projects mentioned in these letters are not the projects of Napoles’ NGOs," Revilla said.

Revilla said that the charge against him "falls flat on its face, and acquittal mandated by the Constitution and the law necessarily follows."

"In this case, the prosecution has not presented any evidence, much less evidence proving beyond reasonable doubt, that accused Revilla received from Janet Lim Napoles, Ronald John Lim and John Raymund De Asis any money, commissions or kickbacks," Revilla said.

The Sandiganbayan will schedule the date of promulgation in Revilla's plunder case after the prosecution files its own memorandum. — BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT