The Office of the Ombudsman has rested its case against Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. This after the Sandiganbayan (SB) acquitted him for insufficiency of evidence on the remaining 16 graft cases in relation to the pork barrel scam. The SB First Division voted 3-2 to grant Senator Revilla’s Demurrer to Evidence, AND WE RESPECT ITS DECISION.
Consistent with the defendant’s constitutional right against double jeopardy, Ombudsman Samuel Martires sets the policy of no longer challenging the dismissal of cases/quashal of information and judgments of acquittal, either through a motion to dismiss, a demurrer to evidence or by a decision, rendered by the trial courts or the Sandiganbayan except when the People was clearly deprived of due process or there was mistrial.
In 2014, Senator Revilla was accused of diverting his Priority Development Assistance Fund for the years 2006 to 2009 to non-governmental organizations linked to Janet Napoles, and getting P224.5M kickback in the process.
A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss on the ground of insufficiency of evidence. The grant of the court of the demurrer is tantamount to an acquittal because the defendant is cleared of the criminal case and is no longer required to present his evidence. ###
Public Information and Media Relations Bureau
Office of the Ombudsman
Telephone No. 8479.7300 local 2122