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Ponente of Bong acquittal: I would have loved to be a heroine but we're bound to rule based on evidence


The Sandiganbayan justice who penned the 186-page decision acquitting former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of plunder acknowledged the unpopularity of the ruling, but said the anti-graft court's decision was based on evidence.

First Division Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg said Revilla would have been convicted if the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

"It’s an unpopular decision. I would have loved to be a heroine, that I convicted him, but at the end of the day we are bound to rule based on the evidence," Econg said in an ambush interview.

The First Division had to convene a special division of five to acquit Revilla because the three regular members were unable to come up with a unanimous decision.

The decision was concurred by Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Georgina Hidalgo, while division chairperson Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta expressed their dissent.

According to the decision, Revilla was acquitted of plunder due to the prosecution's failure in proving he received kickbacks by channeling his Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, to the bogus non-government organizations of scheme mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

"For failure of the prosecution to establish beyond reasonable doubt that accused Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. received, directly or indirectly the rebates, commission, and kickbacks from his PDAF, the Court cannot hold him liable for the crime of plunder. Accordingly, he is acquitted," the dispositive portion read.

Napoles and former Revilla aide Richard Cambe, on the other hand, were found guilty and sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment. — MDM, GMA News

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