(Eagle News)—–Senator Leila De Lima on Saturday, Dec. 8, hit the Sandiganbayan’s acquittal of former Senator Bong Revilla for plunder.
“I could only shake my head in utter disbelief and dismay. Yesterday was a sad moment for truth, justice and accountability,” De Lima, who was the justice secretary when charges were filed against Revilla and two other then-senators in connection with the pork barrel scam, said.
Revilla was accused of plunder for allegedly taking over P200 million in kickbacks by channeling his pork barrel to fake foundations allegedly set up by alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles.
Napoles and Revilla’s former chief of staff Richard Cambe were convicted by the Sandiganbayan on Friday, Dec. 7.
According to De Lima, with Revilla’s acquittal, “it now appears that legislators are not responsible for how they use their pork, even if this ends up being plundered.”
De Lima said “what is clear is that in the determination of the liability of a lawmaker for the use of his (Priority Development Assistance Fund), ignorance and negligence in how this is utilized by his own office is now a defense.”
According to De Lima, in the first place, it was “unbelievable as it is ludicrous that Revilla’s aide reaped the benefits of the scam in connivance with Napoles but sans Revilla.”
“Let’s also ask: was the proven fact, based on (Anti-Money Laundering Council) reports, that numerous deposits of more than P87 million were made in Revilla’s and his family’s accounts, within a time frame which jibes with Benhur Luy’s ledgers, ever explained by the defense?” she asked.
She also took note of Associate Justice de la Cruz’s and Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta’s dissenting opinions, in which they questioned the reliability of the document examiner’s testimony Revilla’s signatures on pertinent documents for the pork barrel funds were forged.
“Most logical is de la Cruz’s view that assuming that the signatures were forged, it is because ‘Revilla knew and consented to the affixing of his signature on these documents,'” De Lima quoted them as saying.
She hit the administration anew, saying “what is now patently evident is that the corrupt and big plunderers are set free, while critics are targeted and charged with fabricated accusations, and mere suspects are gunned down in broad daylight.”
“In the end, this is also a matter of conscience. A principal being able to bear with his conscience in sacrificing a loyal and trusted aide. And justices of the anti-graft court struggling with their own,” she added.
