Ombudsman to file plunder charges vs. Enrile, Revilla, Estrada over ‘pork’ scam

The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., as well as businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, with plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said plunder charges will also be filed with the Sandiganbayan against several government and non-government organization (NGO) officials for their participation in the scam.

Rafanan said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the recommendation of the five-member special panel that looked into the complaint filed by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation in three joint resolutions Monday.

The announcement came less than two hours after Senator Teofisto Guingona III, head of the Senate blue ribbon committee, announced in a separate briefing that his panel has recommended plunder charges against Napoles and the three senators also in connection with the anomaly.

Meanwhile, in a phone-patch interview on GMA News TV's News TV Live, Revilla's legal counsel, lawyer Joel Bodegon, said they will file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman, noting their pending petition before the Supreme Court.

"Hindi man lang nila isinantabi 'yung Supreme Court dahilan may naka-schedule na oral argument sa April 22 sa Baguio City doon sa aming application for TRO (temporary restraining order) para pigilin ang preliminary investigation ng Ombudsman," he said.

He maintained that Revilla should not be charged with plunder, noting the admissions by whistleblowers that they had forged the signatures of senators on documents relating to their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the formal name of pork barrel.

"Ngayon, kung peke at finorge ang signature ni Sen. Revilla, ang PDAF documents na iyon ay hindi binding kay Revilla," Bodegon said.

Revilla is currently out of the country with his wife, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla. He has vowed to return to face the charges against him.

Meanwhile, for his part, lawyer Raji Mendoza, counsel of whistleblower Benhur Luy, said his client is "very satisfied" with the Ombudsman's recommendation.

"He was very satisfied na kahit papaano, ['yung kaso] tumatakbo, may direksyon," he said in a separate phone-patch interview on News TV Live. — with Amanda Fernandez/KBK/JL, GMA News

Source: Ombudsman to file plunder charges vs. Enrile, Revilla, Estrada over ?pork? scam | News | GMA News Online
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