By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Embattled former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Thursday appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file his counter-affidavit on the continuation of the preliminary hearing of the complaints filed against him in connection with the ghost flood control projects.
Revilla faces charges for plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officers, after officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said before the Senate that they delivered hundreds of millions of pesos in kickbacks.
Meanwhile, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the three state witnesses – former DPWH – National Capital Region Director Gerard Opulencia, former undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who were also present during the hearing – have been required to file affidavits detailing their role in the cases, as well as secure a “certificate of materiality” of their testimony before they can be discharged.
Another hearing is scheduled on Feb. 20.
While the hearing was ongoing, protesters rallied outside the DOJ compound and insisted on Revilla’s innocence.
His lawyer, Francesca Senga, meanwhile, said that allowing the three witnesses to be discharged from the case would leave Revilla as the lone respondent in the case, negating assertions of a “conspiracy.” (PNA)
