Ombudsman says it will no longer challenge Bong Revilla's acquittal in 'pork' scam

The Office of the Ombudsman will no longer appeal Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.'s acquittal of 16 graft charges in relation to the pork barrel scam.

In a statement on Thursday, the office said this is in accordance with Ombudsman Samuel Martires' policy of "no longer challenging the dismissal of cases/quashal of information and judgments of acquittal."

"Consistent with the defendant’s constitutional right against double jeopardy, Ombudsman Samuel Martires sets the policy of no longer challenging the dismissal of cases/quashal of information and judgments of acquittal, either through a motion to dismiss, a demurrer to evidence or by a decision, rendered by the trial courts or the Sandiganbayan except when the People was clearly deprived of due process or there was mistrial," the statement said.

In a resolution promulgated July 1, Sandiganbayan's Special First Division granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Revilla due to insufficient evidence against him, but denied the same motion of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss on the ground of insufficiency of evidence.

Revilla was accused of diverting his pork barrel, or Priority Development Assistance Fund, and giving unwarranted benefit to bogus non-government organizations linked to Napoles to receive kickbacks.

"The SB First Division voted 3-2 to grant Senator Revilla’s Demurrer to Evidence, AND WE RESPECT ITS DECISION," the Office of the Ombudsman said.

It added that the grant of the court of the demurrer is "tantamount to an acquittal because the defendant is cleared of the criminal case and is no longer required to present his evidence."

Elated, Revilla said he would move forward and continue serving the public. —KBK, GMA News