DOJ denies Bong Revilla's opposition on inclusion of addt'l respondents

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied the opposition of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on the inclusion of additional respondents in his plunder complaint over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Lawyer Carlos Villaruz represented Revilla in the preliminary hearing at the DOJ. 

“Nag oppose kami pero… dineny (we opposed but it was denied),” he said in an ambush interview.

“Basically para complete daw ‘yung prosecution nung investigation (basically so that the prosecution of the complaint will be complete),” he added.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) previously filed a motion to include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) NCR engineers Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, Ruel Umali, and Arturo Gonzales Jr. in the complaint against Revilla and others.

Revilla’s camp opposed the motion. 

Revilla’s original co-respondents were former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara, and former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia, who are considered state witnesses.

Meanwhile, Villaruz said that the additional respondents submitted their counter-affidavits.

“They submitted their counter-affidavits and subscribed to it, and then kami naman (we) the other respondents, including former Senator Bong Revilla, were given until March 30 to file the necessary manifestation and motion,” he said.

Following this, the complaint may be submitted for resolution.

Revilla filed his counter-affidavit regarding the allegations on February 12. 

According to Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez, the plunder complaint covers multiple alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.

"We know plunder kasi, of course, is a grave crime. It covers a combination of series of overt acts where the acquisition of ill-gotten wealth amounted to at least P50 million," he said in a separate ambush interview.

"Ang (the) plunder complaints po, necessarily, hindi lang po 'yan isang (it's not just one) project. It's multiple projects. But what we can say is they're all located in Bulacan," he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News