Bong Revilla: 'Ano isasauli ko? Wala akong kasalanan'

Former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. insisted on Thursday that he is not among the personalities ordered by the Sandiganbayan to return P124.5 million worth of civil liabilities to the government.

In a press conference, Revilla said the anti-graft court's First Division has already spoken when it acquitted him of plunder due to lack of evidence that he benefited from the pork barrel scam.

"Ano ang isasauli ko? Wala naman akong kasalanan. Nagsalita na ang korte na wala akong kasalanan," he said.

He was joined by his team of lawyers during the briefing, including his lead defense counsel Estelito Mendoza and lawyers Carlos Villaruz and Reody Anthony Balisi.

Villaruz said the dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan decision was clear in stating that Revilla was not included among those with civil liability.

"He has no obligation to pay," Villaruz said, citing Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, which states: "Every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable."

The Sandiganbayan cited this provision in its ruling, saying, "[P]ursuant to Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, accused are held solidarily and jointly liable to return to the National Treasury the amount of P124.5 million."

Based on the law, it should be scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and Revilla's former legislative aide Richard Cambe who are liable for the amount after they were found guilty of plunder.

Balisi said the Sandiganbayan acquitted Revilla due to the prosecution's failure to show proof that he received kickbacks worth P224.5 million from Napoles.

Revilla has nothing to return to the government because the evidence showed he did not amass ill-gotten wealth, according to Balisi.

"The court found that Senator Revilla did not receive any commission or kickbacks, so what is there to return?" he said.

For his part, Mendoza said there should be no doubts about the acquittal of his client, as he blamed whistle-blower Benhur Luy for supposedly falsifying the endorsement letters and the signatures of Revilla, thus facilitating the release of his pork barrel funds in favor of the non-government organizations of Napoles.

"Walang ebidensya na tumanggap siya ng pera. Hindi napatunayan na siya ang pumirma, lahat 'yan gawa ni Benhur Luy. Dapat diyan ang idemanda ang whistle-blowers," Mendoza said. —KBK, GMA News