Seeks provisional liberty anew
(Eagle News) — Former Senator Bong Revilla has filed an urgent motion asking the Supreme Court to stop Sandiganbayan proceedings held in connection with the plunder case filed against him, and to grant him provisional liberty.
In arguing for the same in the motion filed on March 16, Revilla, through his lawyers, noted that he has been in detention for 1,371 days since June 20, 2014 even if he had a pending petition that argued that his constitutional rights were already being violated.
According to Revilla, in particular, there was a violation of the “due process of law,” of his right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and of his right to be informed of the nature and cause of accusation against him.
“While the Court immediately acted on (my) prayer for the court en banc to act on the petition, the only action taken by the court since then is the issuance of a resolution on Feb. 6, 2018,” he said.
He said this resolution, in particular, deferred action on several of his pleadings.
Meanwhile though, Revilla said that the Sandiganbayan has proceeded with the trial of the case, “compelling (him) to present evidence for his defense, specifically on the 5134 pieces of evidence that the Sandiganbayan has admitted in its order of November 9, 2017, without a clear identification of the particular ‘acts’ that are ‘overt’ and ‘criminal’ through which petitioner allegedly acquired ill-gotten wealth.”
Revilla added that he “remains unaware which of the 5,134 pieces of evidence was offered to prove, at least the most basic elements of plunder.”
“Given these injudicious circumstances, petitioner was constrained to give up several trial dates out of the 60 dates allowed by the Sandiganbayan for him to present evidence and he is already in peril of losing all the dates allowed for his defense,” he said.
“Wherefore, it is respectfully urgently prayed that the Court act and grant his prayers by way of interim measures..,” he added.
Revilla also asked that the High Court require the respondents to file their respective comments “within a non-extendible period of seven days and the petitioner the same period to reply,” and that his petition be set for oral arguments.
Of the three senators–Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile—charged then in connection with the pork barrel scam, only Revilla remains detained. Moira Encina
