By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Monday rejected allegations of selective justice following the Sandiganbayan’s decision to grant bail to former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., stressing that the ruling was made by an independent court and not by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said criticisms that Revilla’s temporary liberty reflected favoritism ignored the constitutional separation of powers and the judicial process.
“Ang pagdedesisyon po iyan, hindi po hawak ng Pangulo ang judiciary, alam natin na separation of powers (Regarding that decision, the President does not control the judiciary, we know there is a separation of powers),” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
She also dismissed claims that the administration gave preferential treatment to Revilla because he is considered an ally of the President.
“Kung iyan talaga ay may katotohanan at sasabihin natin may kamay ang Pangulo dito, hindi ba dapat hindi na lang siya sinampahan ng kaso, pero siya iyong naunang sinampahan ng kaso (If there is any truth to that —and assuming the President had a hand in this—wouldn’t it have made more sense not to file charges against him in the first place? Yet, he was the very first one to be charged),” Castro said.
“So walang logic, it doesn’t follow na siya ang unang pakakawalan dahil kaalyado (So, there is no logic to it; it does not follow that he would be the first to be released simply because he is an ally).”
Revilla was among the first high-profile officials charged by the government in connection with an alleged anomalous PHP92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
Castro likewise rejected assertions that the Sandiganbayan’s grant of bail reflected weak anti-corruption cases or poor prosecution by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Tandaan po natin, hindi lamang po si dating Senador Bong Revilla ang akusado rito. Siya lamang po ang nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-post ng bail for temporary liberty. Iyong iba pong sangkot ay hindi po na-grant ang petition for bail (Let us bear in mind that former Senator Bong Revilla is not the only accused here. He’s just the only one who was granted the opportunity to post bail for temporary liberty; the petitions for bail of the other individuals involved were not granted),” she said.
“Hindi po natin masasabi na hindi sapat ang naging trabaho ng Office of the Ombudsman at ng mga state prosecutors. Hindi ito gauge para sabihin na hindi sila nagtatrabaho (We cannot say that the work done by the Office of the Ombudsman and the state prosecutors was insufficient. This is not a gauge to claim that they are not doing their jobs),” Castro added.
She said the proceedings remain ongoing, adding that the bail ruling was not a final judgment on the merits of the case.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division last week granted Revilla’s petition for bail after ruling that prosecutors failed to show that the evidence of guilt against him was strong during bail proceedings. He posted a PHP1-million cash bond and was released pending trial. (PNA)
