Sandigan Orders Arrest Warrant for Sen. Revilla

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday issued an order commanding that warrants of arrest be issued against Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. including alleged scam brains trader Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the plunder and graft charges filed against them for their alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam. The Sandiganbayan First Division also includes 31 others allegedly involved in the case.

The First Division ordered that warrants be issued to arrest of Sen. Revilla, his senior staff Richard Cambe, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Napoles, her nephew Ronald John Lim and her driver-bodyguard John Reymund De Asis.

A report over GMA news online said that as of 4:30 pm Thursday, Atty. Estella Rosete, first division clerk of court, personally left a copy of the warrant to be signed by Justice Efren Dela Cruz, chairman of the division. The warrant will take effect once Dela Cruz affixes his signature on the document, report said.

In the four-page resolution, the collegial tribunal found probable cause to indict Revilla and his co-accused for plunder and graft.

Napoles’ camp said the expected issuance of the arrest warrants did not surprise them. Lawyer Bruce Rivera, a spokesman for Napoles said in a text message to GMA news online that they expected the move and they are not worried since Janet Lim Napoles is already under detention.

The First Division earlier in the day denied Revilla’s request to suspend the proceedings, adding that the panel will exhaust the 10 days allotted to them to determine if there is probable cause, report said.

Senator Revilla’s legal counsel Joel Bodegon said the Sandiganbayan seemed to have rushed the determination of probable cause adding that he felt the court denied their request when they were given 10 days to file a reply.

He said his client would cooperate and even surrender to authorities once the warrant was served.

Revilla and his co-accused was charge for allegedly pocketing millions of pesos in government funds through kickbacks from Napoles.

Revilla has said he was prepared to go to jail once the Sandiganbayan issued the warrant for his arrest.

The special appellate court also ordered warrants of arrest for Revilla’s other co-accused Mario Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare, Antonio Ortiz, Dennis Cunanan, Francisco Figura, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Myla Ogerio, Eulogio Rodriguez, Laarni Uy, Consuelo Espiritu, Evelyn De Leon, Allan Javellana, Encamita Munsod, Maria Julie Johnson, Victor Roman Cacal, Maria Ninez Guanizo, Rhodora Mendoza, Gondolina Amata, Alexis Sevidal, Ofelia Ordonez, Sofia Cruz, Chita Jalandoni, Gregorio Buenaventura, Jocelyn Piorano and Evelyn Sucgang, report said.

Source: GMA News Online