The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed yesterday the filing of a P224 million plunder and graft cases against detained former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. for his alleged misuse of the outlawed Priority Development Assistance fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.
In a decision issued during yesterday’s full court session, the SC – in a 13-1 vote with one abstention – dismissed Revilla’s petition challenging the 2014 ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman which filed the cases before the Sandiganbayan.
The SC decision is not yet final and executory. Thus, Revilla has 15 days from receipt of the official copy of the decision to file a motion for reconsideration.
But with the 13-1 vote, legal sources said the reversal of the ruling on a motion for reconsideration is “farfetched.”
Once the decision becomes final and executory, the Sandiganbayan can proceed, without legal impediment, on the trial of Revilla and his co-accused in the plunder and graft cases. (Rey Panaligan)