Sandiganbayan also defers arraignment of ex-Sen Bong Revilla on his graft case
Just like in his case for non-bailable malversation of public funds, the arraignment of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on his graft charge was cancelled Friday afternoon, Jan. 23, and reset by the Sandiganbayan’s fourth division to Feb. 9.
During arraignment, an accused either pleads guilty or not guilty to the charge. If an accused refuses to enter any plea, a plea of not guilty will be recorded.
Revilla’s arraignment on malversation of public funds was also reset by the anti-graft court’s third division to Feb. 9.
The former senator and his six co-accuses were charged with graft and malversation of public funds in the P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
In the graft case, only Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office Engineer Emelita Juat was arraigned as scheduled, and she pleaded "not guilty" to the crime charged.
Aside from Revilla and Juat, also charged with graft before the anti-graft court were DPWH 1st District Engineering Office Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, Engineer R.J. Domasig, and Accountant Juanito Mendoza, and Cashier Christina Mae Pineda.
Revilla and his co-accused are now detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City.
They were charged before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conspiring to facilitate the release of approximately P76 million for the supposed construction of the P72.8 million flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bonzuran, Pandi, Bulacan, a project which, based on official inspection and witness accounts, was “never implemented.