Bong Revilla ordered released; Cambe, Napoles committed to prisons

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the release of former Senator "Bong" Revilla following his acquittal of the plunder charges filed against him in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Revilla earlier posted a bail of P480,000 for the graft cases still pending before the Sandiganbayan and related to the scam engineered by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

"Let the hold departure order issued against accused Ramon Bong Revilla by reason of this case be lifted and set aside," the court order read.

"The accused is ordered released unless there exist other grounds for his continued detention," it added.

Revilla's co-accused Napoles and former aide Richard Cambe were committed to prisons after being found guilty of plunder.

"Let a mittimus be issued for confinment of accised Richard A. Cambe at the New Bilibid Prison... and Janet Lim Napoles at the Correctional Institution for Women," the order said.

Family, friends at Camp Crame

Pending his release from detention, doctors and family members went with Revilla upon his return to the PNP Custodial Center to await his release order and othe procedures.

Among Revilla's next of kin present were his wife, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado, as well as his sons, Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla and Brian Revilla.

"Okay naman, he is in a happy mood," his friend and fellow accused in the pork barrel scam former Senator Jinggoy Estrada told reporters.

Estrada attended the promulgation on Revilla's plunder case in Sandiganbayan and later joined Revilla back in PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame pending the Sandiganbayan's issuance of release order for Revilla.

"Sino ba naman and 'di magiging masaya after four years and five months behind bars...ngayon na siya makakalabas," Estrada said.

The P183 million plunder case against Estrada is still pending. —with Llanesca T. Panti/NB, GMA News