That's how the justice system works.
Malacañang made the latest statement after the Sandiganbayan cleared Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of graft charges linked to the controversial pork barrel scam.
The graft cases filed against Revilla have dismissed due to insufficiency of evidence, according to the anti-graft court. Revilla's demurrer to evidence, a plea seeking to dismiss charges on alleged weakness of the prosecution's evidence, had been granted by the Sandiganbayan.
"Well, he was accorded his day in court and the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, July 6.
"Ganyan po talaga ang sistema ng katarungan natin sa Pilipinas, ang mga akusado po ay presumed innocent until proven otherwise (That's how our justice system works in the Philippines. The accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise)," he added.
Back in 2018, Revilla was freed from a four-year detention after the court acquitted him of plunder. He made a triumphant political comeback when he won another term in the Senate during the 2019 elections.
Roque said the latest court ruling on Revilla's case would not affect the government's anti-corruption drive. He said President Duterte has already promised to use the remainder of his term to run after the officials involved in corruption in government.