Revilla camp given until Feb. 19 to comment on motion to hold him civilly liable for plunder of pork barrel funds

(Eagle News) — The Sandiganbayan has given former Senator Bong Revilla’s camp until Feb. 19 to comment on the prosecutors’ motion for him to be held civilly liable for the plunder of P124.5 million of pork barrel funds.

This was after First Division chair Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz granted the request of Estelito Mendoza, Revilla’s lawyer, for the period of time to prepare.

Dela Cruz also asked prosecutors to file their opposition to the Revilla camp’s comment within ten days upon the filing of the same.

Revilla has been cleared by the Sandiganbayan of criminal liability in connection with the funds, but prosecutors argued he could still be held civilly liable because the anti-graft court itself did not specifically state this could not be done in its decision.

Prosecutors argued the dispositive portion of the Sandiganbayan decision merely read the “accused are solidarily and jointly liable” to return the amount.

In the criminal case, Revilla’s co-accused included alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles and his former chief of staff Richard Cambe.

Revilla is running for a Senate seat in the May elections.