Morales disappointed over plight of pork barrel scam cases at Sandiganbayan

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales expressed disappointment on Monday over the progress of pending cases at the Sandigabayan in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam.

Morales, nonetheless, said she had no regrets over the indictments her leadership filed against former high-ranking government officials.

"No regrets. But disappointments, yes. I am very confident up to now that the evidence we presented merits guilt beyond reasonable doubt," Morales said in an interview on News To Go.

Speaking for the first time since her retirement in July, Morales did not mention specific cases but the First Division of the anti-graft court acquitted former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of plunder last year.

The Sandiganbayan said the prosecution was unable to prove Revilla received kickbacks from alleged scheme mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, who was convicted of the same charge for the misuse of the former lawmaker's Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Division on March 13 allowed Estrada to file his demurrer to evidence challenging the weight of accusations against him.

The plunder case would be dismissed outright without the need for Estrada to present his own evidence if the Sandiganbayan would grant the demurrer.

Morales said the ruling could be a setback for her former wards at the Ombudsman since the burden should be on Estrada to prove his innocence.

"When the case (met) its waterloo at the demurrer to evidence stage, it's very disappointing because, as i said, we believe the evidence we filed amounted to guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The burden of the evidence should have shifted to the defense for the defense to prove otherwise," Morales said.

Both Revilla and Estrada are seeking to return to the Senate in the 2019 midterm elections. —NB, GMA News