The Sandiganbayan First Division has ended the trial of the plunder case against detained former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. after the prosecution and the defense submitted the case for resolution.
Four years after the case was filed against the former movie star, the anti-graft division on Friday formally submitted Revilla’s case for resolution.
Revilla was accused of pocketing P224.5 million worth of commissions from pork barrel funds under his control while in the Senate.
The Sandiganbayan will soon issue a resolution on Revilla’s plunder case after the prosecution and defense submitted their separate memorandum before the anti-graft court, which did not set a date of its promulgation.
Earlier, pork barrel scam whistle-blower Marlina Sula withdrew her statement that Revilla signed the endorsement letters for the utilization of his pork barrel funds.
Upon direct examination of Revilla’s lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi, Sula, who was presented by the defense panel as its hostile witness, revealed that the prosecution asked her to affirm the statements of pork barrel scam star witness Benhur Luy.
Sula claimed she saw that Luy allegedly forged at least three letters. She also denied that she met Revilla during her stint as employee of the JLN Corp. of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
However, Sula admitted giving various supporting documents to Revilla regarding the bogus foundation Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc.
Revilla then said he felt vindicated by Sula’s statement, adding he was “targeted,” without naming names.
