The Sandiganbayan First Division will issue a ruling this December 2 on
the petition for bail of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and his
plunder co-accused.
First Division Chairman Efren dela Cruz explained that the court has
asked the Supreme Court for extension of up to 10 days to resolve the
bail petitions of Revilla and two co-accused, his office staff member
Atty. Richard Cambe and alleged pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim
Napoles.
The Supreme Court had issued a circular that directed courts to
resolve bail petitions within 48 hours after parties have formally
offered their evidence and presented their respective arguments and
summations.
After the prosecution and defense lawyers wrapped up their
presentation of evidence and conducted their summations last November
20, dela Cruz declared that the court will ask for an extension before
the High Court due to the voluminous exhibits that were offered as
evidence from both sides.
Though their request for extension has been submitted, dela Cruz
yesterday bared that the Supreme Court has yet to make a decision to
whether or not to grant it.
Meantime, dela Cruz admitted that as of yesterday, he and his two
other fellow Associate Justices at the First Division will still have to
deliberate on the petition for bail.
If need be, dela Cruz said that the court will seek another extension from the High Court.
Last November 20, Revilla’s lawyers offered among their exhibits the
testimony of handwriting expert Desiderio Pagui, a retired National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) document examiner who said that the
signatures of Revilla were forged in Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) documents that are now being used as evidence against the
lawmaker.
However, state prosecutors told the court that Pagui “failed to
present clear and convincing evidence that the signatures do not belong
to Senator Revilla.”
Hence, the prosecution added “the court is not bound by the opinion of a hand writing expert.”
