By Czarina Nicole Ong
A conviction for his graft or plunder case before the Sandiganbayan First Division will not disqualify former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla from seeking a Senate seat in 2019, his lawyer said.
Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. (Mark Balmores / Manila Bulletin File Photo)
“He may still run because he can still appeal the decision before the Sandiganbayan or the Supreme Court. Unless the decision becomes final and executory, a conviction will not automatically disqualify him from running,” said Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra.
It was former Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez who revealed Revilla’s political plans with the Lakas-CMD group.
Esguerra added that Revilla can file his certificate of candidacy, but it “will depend entirely” on the discretion of the Sandiganbayan - provided that his case is still pending during the campaign period.
“Ultimately, it will be the Sandiganbayan which will decide whether there is ground to grant a furlough,” Esguerra said.
The anti-graft court is all set to decide on whether to give Revilla a guilty or not guilty ruling on his plunder charge in relation to the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam.
The trial ended last August 9 and the defense submitted for decision its memorandum while the prosecution handed in its comment concerning the case before the court.
Revilla is facing one plunder charge and 16 counts of graft because of the misuse of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF), which he reportedly endorsed to the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of Janet Lim Napoles in exchange for kickbacks amounting to P224,512,500.
Revilla remains locked up in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. (Mark Balmores / Manila Bulletin File Photo)
“He may still run because he can still appeal the decision before the Sandiganbayan or the Supreme Court. Unless the decision becomes final and executory, a conviction will not automatically disqualify him from running,” said Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra.
It was former Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez who revealed Revilla’s political plans with the Lakas-CMD group.
Esguerra added that Revilla can file his certificate of candidacy, but it “will depend entirely” on the discretion of the Sandiganbayan - provided that his case is still pending during the campaign period.
“Ultimately, it will be the Sandiganbayan which will decide whether there is ground to grant a furlough,” Esguerra said.
The anti-graft court is all set to decide on whether to give Revilla a guilty or not guilty ruling on his plunder charge in relation to the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam.
The trial ended last August 9 and the defense submitted for decision its memorandum while the prosecution handed in its comment concerning the case before the court.
Revilla is facing one plunder charge and 16 counts of graft because of the misuse of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF), which he reportedly endorsed to the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of Janet Lim Napoles in exchange for kickbacks amounting to P224,512,500.
Revilla remains locked up in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.