Revilla drops Bodegon as lawyer in ‘pork’ cases

After his appeal to post bail was junked by the Sandiganbayan, detained Senator  Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. parted ways with his lawyer, Joel Bodegon.

Bodegon, who has served as Revilla's counsel since the start of the senator's plunder and graft cases, said the parting was a “mutual agreement.”

“It was a mutual agreement, but it's confidential. There is of course attorney-client privilege. But there's no rancor. In fact sabi ko, and he agreed, that he can call on me anytime,” Bodegon told GMA News Online by phone Tuesday.

Revilla is accused of funneling millions of pesos in his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel fund to fictitious non-goverment organizations for kickbacks.

In December 2014, The Sandiganbayan denied Revilla's bid for temporary freedom. He has filed a motion for reconsideration that is currently pending before the anti-graft court.

Prior to serving as counsel for Revilla, Bodegon was former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s lawyer in his 2012 impeachment trial.

In the same interview, Bodegon said that while he and his team are no longer connected with the case, they have yet to file the formal manifestation with the court.

“It's not yet official, there are transition matters, the new counsel should be there to receive files and the entire records, pati corruption cases. Maraming paperwork. Baka by Friday or next week we will [file the necessary motion],” he said.

Bodegon—a managing partner of the Bodegon, Estorninos, Guerzon, Borje and Gozos Law Offices—said his co-counsel during the Corona impeachment trial, lawyer Ramon Esquerra, could replace him as Revilla's lawyer.

However, even without official paperwork, Bodegon said he will no longer appear as Revilla's counsel during the hearing to determine if Revilla will be allowed to add evidence to his bail petition.

“Hindi na kami yun, baka yung collaborating counsel na ang mag-appear,” he said.  —KBK, GMA News