SC dismisses Revilla’s plea to junk plunder case, Sandiganbayan trial proceeds

February 14, 2017

The Supreme Court has allowed the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the trial of the P224-million plunder case filed against former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. in connection with the implementation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

The SC on Tuesday denied with finality the bid of Revilla for dismissal of the plunder complaint filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan.

The SC also dismissed with finality the motions for reconsideration filed by his co-accused Janet Lim Napoles, Mario Relampagos, Richard Cambe and John Raymund De Asis.

In a resolution, the Supreme Court sustained its December 6, 2016 decision upholding the findings of probable cause by the anti-graft body.

“The Court had ruled to dismiss the petitions for lack of merit, affirm the findings of probable cause and direct the Sandiganbayan, as the trial court to commence/continue all necessary proceedings with deliberate dispatch,” the SC ruled.

Revilla, in his petition, said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the joint resolution dated March 28, 2014 found probable cause to charge him with plunder.

Thirteen justices voted against his petition. Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. dissented while Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza took no part. DMS