Bong Revilla asks Sandiganbayan to junk P92M malversation case vs him

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Bong Revilla asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division to dismiss his malversation case over an alleged ghost project in Bulacan worth over P92 million.

The division’s clerk of court Dennis Pulma gave this information on Wednesday.

Pulma told reporters that Revilla filed a motion for leave with an attached demurrer to evidence on Monday.

An accused files a demurrer to evidence to dismiss a case immediately by asserting that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the case.

During the hearings, the prosecution presented state witnesses, including former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and then-District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. 

Revilla has six co-accused in this case, all former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, who have yet to file the same motion.

“We are waiting for the other accused [to file the motion] within the day,” Pulma said.

He also noted that there is no schedule yet for the presentation of evidence of Revilla and his co-accused.

Revilla faces a malversation of public funds case due to being an alleged co-conspirator in the illegal disbursement of P76.9 million for the purported ghost flood control project of the DPWH in Bulacan’s Pandi town worth P92.8 million.

The transaction was reportedly in exchange for a 25-percent cut.

He has repeatedly denied the accusation.

The former senator is out on P1 million bail since late July 31. /apl