Revilla yet to return ₱124M from pork barrel case, says Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has yet to return to the government over ₱124 million in civil liabilities from his acquittal in a plunder case, despite being granted bail in his malversation case over the flood control scandal, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Remulla on Saturday reminded the judiciary and Revilla about the judgment after the latter posted bail of P1 million and was granted release from detention on Friday by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.

“It was included in his judgment of acquittal (in plunder)… and until now, the money has yet to be returned (to the government),” Remulla said on “Executive Session,” his weekly radio show on DZRH.

He stressed that the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, should be able to keep track of such cases, where the civil aspect involves a huge sum of money to be given back to state coffers.

READ: Revilla acquittal draws surprise, scorn

Bong Revilla’s unreturned ₱124M

Remulla was referring to a ruling by the Sandiganbayan in 2018, where Revilla was cleared of plunder but was directed to pay ₱124.5 million in civil damages to the national treasury in connection with his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. Revilla’s co-accused, his chief of staff Richard Cambe and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, were convicted in the same case.

In 2019, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a motion before the anti-graft court, asking it to compel Revilla to pay the civil damages because the crime was committed through the ex-senator’s office.

Revilla’s then lawyer, the late Estelito Mendoza, earlier argued that the former lawmaker could not be made to pay civil damages because he was acquitted of criminal liability. /das

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