Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla described the Sandiganbayan’s ruling to grant bail to former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. as an “eye-opener” on Saturday, emphasizing that it should compel the government to bolster its fight against corruption.
During his weekly radio broadcast, Remulla raised concerns regarding the unpaid ₱124.5-million civil liability stemming from Revilla’s 2018 acquittal in the ₱10-billion pork barrel scam.
”Bakit hindi pa nakukuha yung… pinababayad nila? Kasama yan sa judgement acquittal. Pinapasauli sa kaniya yung pera. Hanggang ngayon di pa nasasauli,” Remulla said.
Remulla noted that his office anticipated the Sandiganbayan Third Division’s ruling, framing the decision as a temporary hurdle in a broader effort.
”Alam na namin na mangyayari yan, na mukhang tinatrabaho na mukhang magka-grant of bail. That’s only a bail. We have to win a war as a country,” he explained.
The anti-graft court granted Revilla temporary liberty on Friday, citing that prosecutors failed to demonstrate strong evidence of guilt in his malversation through falsification of public documents charge.
The case centers on an unexecuted ₱92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. Revilla and six co-defendants also face related graft charges over the same project.
Following the approval of a P1-million cash bond, Revilla was released from the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory while his trial proceeds.
Moving forward, Remulla announced plans to engage with retiring Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo to discuss institutional cooperation against graft, adding that the Supreme Court should track the actual recovery of court-ordered public funds.
”I want to talk to the Chief Justice who will be retiring in November so that his legacy will be OK, will be good,” he said.