THE Sandiganbayan has moved the arraignment on both the malversation and graft charges against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla and his co-accused to Feb. 9.
Revilla appeared before the graft court wearing a gray jacket over the yellow jail uniform.
Accused with him in the P92.8-million anomalous ghost project scandal in Pandi, Bulacan, were former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez; district engineers Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig and Emelita Juat; finance section chief Juanito Mendoza; and cashier Christina Pineda.
During the earlier hearing at the court’s aThird Division, where the malversation charge is being tried, division chairman Associate Justice Karl Miranda urged the lawyers of the accused to consolidate their motions by Jan. 26.
Miranda also ordered the prosecution to file its comment to the motions within three calendar days.
The prosecution must also answer the arguments of the defense for Revilla that the conspiracy charge is “unclear” and does not connect that the project that was funded in the 2025 General Appropriations Act was equivalent to falsification.
In his own motion to quash, Juanito Mendoza argued that the acts attributed to his duties were part of his work and that he relied on a document that was verified by Domasig.
The defense also called for the case to be remanded to the Office of the Ombudsman for reinvestigation, but Associate Justice Ronald Moreno said that even if the Ombudsman reverses itself, it should be assumed that the Sandiganbayan has assumed jurisdiction over the case.
Miranda also revealed during the hearing that while his brother acted as counsel for DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing and Revilla’s lead counsel, Ramon Esguerra, is his close friend, there are no grounds for mandatory inhibition, but he would entertain any motion for inhibition.
He also checked on the conditions of the jail facilities of all of the accused in both Payatas for the male inmates and in Camp Karingal for the female inmates.
Revilla and Juat will petition for bail, according to their lawyers.
After the hearing, Revilla’s lawyer, Isaiah Asuncion, said that they filed these motions to quash the warrant and dismiss the case, and that their motion for reinvestigation was due to their denial of due process.
On the second hearing at the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division, where the graft case is being tried, one of Revilla’s lawyers argued to division chairman and Associate Justice Michael Musngi that they have a pending motion for reinvestigation and a motion to quash the case.
Musngi told the lawyers for the defense that the arraignment would proceed despite any motion to quash, further asking if they are in a position to defer the case.
Juat pleaded not guilty to the charge of graft after she waived her right to read the case information against her.
Revilla, Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Domasig, Juanito Mendoza and Pineda will be arraigned instead also on Feb. 9 after the resolution of the pending motions.
This is the second time Revilla is facing charges before the Sandiganbayan for corruption. He was among those who had been charged with plunder and graft due to the pork barrel controversy that revolved around Janet Lim-Napoles.