4 more respondents added in plunder complaint vs Bong Revilla, 3 others at DOJ
Four more respondents have been added to the plunder complaint pending at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
DOJ Spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez told journalists on Friday afternoon, Feb. 20, the added respondents are former engineers assigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR).
Martinez identified them as Denryl Caesar S. Cortuna, Manny B. Bulusan, Ruel V. Umali, and Arturo L. Gonzales Jr.
The inclusion of the four added respondents was sought by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the complainant in the case, last Feb. 18, he said.
“So, these four were included in the motion by the NBI to be included as respondents in the plunder complaint against Senator Bong Revilla and three others,” he also said.
Aside from Revilla, the three other original co-respondents are former DPWH undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, former DPWH Bulacan First District engineer Henry C. Alcantara, and DPWH Regional Director Gerard P. Opulencia.
Based on evidence gathered by the NBI, Martinez said “parte daw po sila sa conspiracy to commit plunder (they are reportedly part of the conspiracy to commit plunder).”
Thus, he said the four added co-respondents will be given the chance to file their counter-affidavits.
He added that the panel of prosecutors has sent out subpoenas to the four new respondents who were directed to submit their respective counter-affidavits on March 3.