Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan entered a not guilty plea on behalf of former Sen. Bong Revilla in his non-bailable malversation charge after he refused to respond to his arraignment for the flood control scam.
Revilla was at the anti-graft court’s Third Division on Monday, Feb. 16. The arraignment was postponed twice amid his appeals.
Under the rules, the court automatically enters a not guilty plea for an accused who refuses to submit a pleading.
The case involved his alleged conspiracy with Department of Public Works and Highways officials in the P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
Francesca Señga, Revilla’s counsel, said the former senator has questioned the legality and validity of the cases against him.
On Feb. 9, the court entered a not guilty plea for Revilla on a graft charge after he refused to submit a plea.
In a related development, DPWH accountant Juanito Mendoza pleaded not guilty to malversation.
Ex-DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Emelita Juat, and former cashier Cristina Pineda all submitted a “not guilty” plea in previous weeks.
Revilla and six others are detained at the New Quezon City Jail pending trial.
Appeal to the ombudsman
Meanwhile, the court granted Revilla and Mendoza’s motion for leave of court – which allows them to file an appeal with the ombudsman.
“Nasa rules kasi na kailangan kapag nasa korte na umabot ang kaso before aktuhan ng ombudsman ang motion for reconsideration and reinvestigation, kailangan may leave of court. Pinapayagan ng court,” Señga said.
[Translation: The rule is that once a case has already reached the court, before the ombudsman can act on a motion for reconsideration or reinvestigation, there must be leave of court. The court granted permission.]
A resolution dated Feb. 5 denied Revilla’s omnibus motions – including the motion to quash the criminal information and arrest warrant, motion to file a leave of court to seek reinvestigation before the ombudsman, and the denial of his jail transfer request.
The court affirmed the previous denial of the motions, except for the appeal to file a leave of court.
Revilla also sought the recusal of Associate Justice Karl Miranda, which was denied for lack of merit.
The Sandiganbayan gave the ombudsman 60 days to resolve the appeals.
In a press briefing, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano expressed confidence in the resolution it filed against Revilla and the DPWH officials.
“We gave them all the opportunities to raise their defenses. To us, ‘yun po ang [that is ] due process,” he said.
The court said proceedings will continue as scheduled, despite partially granting one of the accused’ motions.
