By Earl Jed Roque/PNA
MANILA — Malacañang on Friday said it respects the Sandiganbayan’s decision, acquitting former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on plunder charges in relation with the multi-billion peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the executive branch has always respected the independence of the judiciary and will implement the orders of the anti-graft court.
“The judiciary has performed its constitutional duty of dispensing justice. While justice grinds so slow most of the time, it does grind, and when it stops it renders a verdict that is exacting and immutable,” Panelo said.
Prior to the acquittal, Revilla has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center since 2014 for allegedly misappropriating his PDAF to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
Revilla’s co-accused in the case, Napoles and his former chief-of-staff Richard Cambe, were found guilty of plunder by Sandiganbayan’s 1st Division and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
In the same statement, Panelo said the Duterte administration will learn from the cases involving discretionary funds and vowed to implement measures to ensure the proper utilization of the national budget.
Panelo also noted that all parties can still avail of legal remedies under the law.
