Bong Revilla to spend birthday with family in court

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Bong Revilla to spend birthday with family in court

EPA

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan grants the senator's request to be presented at his bail hearing on September 25, his 48th birthday

MANILA, Philippines – Will it be a “happy” birthday for detained senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, who turns 48 on Thursday, September 25?

Going by a court order in his favor, it just may be.

On Wednesday, September 24, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan’s First Division ordered Revilla to attend his scheduled bail hearing on Thursday, September 25, where state witness Marina “Baby” Sula is set to testify on his alleged involvement in the multi-million-peso pork barrel scam. (READ: Revilla father, son transacted with Napoles – witness)

The court order was based on Revilla’s September 19 request that he be presented at the proceeding on September 25. The senator had previously waived his appearance in court and was never present in hearings for the past two months.

The 1st division issued the produce order on Wednesday to the Philippine National Police Crime Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), which has custody over Revilla.

The order was signed by division clerk of court Estela Teresita Rosete and delivered to the PNP Wednesday afternoon.

Based on a list that Revilla’s camp submitted to court separate from his request letter, Revilla will be with at least 20 family members at the hearing.

The list includes, among others, wife Cavite Representative Lani Revilla, son Cavite Vice Governor Jojo Revilla, and younger brother Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla.

FAMILY AFFAIR? Revilla wants 20 of his family members in court during his 48th birthday. List obtained by Rappler

Revilla’s last appearance in court was on July 10. Every Thursday of the week since then, the court has been hearing his petition to be allowed to post bail for his temporary liberty.

Revilla is detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for plunder and graft charges over allegedly allowing the use of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for ghost projects of bogus nongovernmental organizations ran by alleged mastermind Jane Lim Napoles, in exchange for hefty kickbacks.

Bail hearing to end soon?

Revilla’s lawyer Joel Bodegon is keen on the nearing conclusion of his client’s bail hearing.

He said in an earlier interview that he hopes the summation of arguments will be conducted in early October.

Bodegon believes the prosecution has so far failed to show a “strong evidence of guilt” – the standard needed for the court to deny an accused’s bail plea – that Revilla committed plunder.

Elements needed to prove the commitment of plunder have been testified to by primary whistleblower Benhur Luy using his infamous ledger.

Other than the records of Luy as former financial officer of Napoles, no evidence has been presented thus far that the amount Revilla allegedly defrauded from government exceeded P50 million, the minimum amount for the crime of plunder.

Luy, along with other state witnesses, have also failed to pin down Revilla as having collected his rebates from Napoles.

Instead, Revilla’s aide and lawyer Richard Cambe was supposedly the one dealing directly with the alleged big-time swindler.

Lawyers from the prosecution, however, have maintained that the crime of plunder also involves agents dealing in behalf of the public officer amassing ill-gotten wealth.

During the last hearing on his bail plea, state witness Sula told the court that it was not just Revilla but his father, former senator Ramon Revilla Sr, who transacted with Napoles.  Rappler.com

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