MANILA – The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on Wednesday denied former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s motion to file a demurrer to evidence, which seeks dismissal of the malversation case against him and others over alleged irregularities in a multimillion flood contract project in Bulacan.
Revilla’s co-accused are former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig and Emelita Juat, as well as DPWH personnel Juanito Mendoza and Christina Pineda.
The anti-graft court set the initial presentation of the defense’s evidence on Nov. 24.
Revilla is presently out on bail after posting PHP1 million for his temporary liberty last August.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta also filed his own motion seeking to submit a demurrer to evidence in his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.
Marcoleta was accused of receiving election campaign donations worth PHP75 million in three tranches from former congressman Mike Defensor, and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu in the mid-term 2025 elections.
Under court rules, an accused may submit a demurrer to evidence, seeking dismissal of charges and claiming the insufficiency of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
If filed with a “motion for leave,” an accused may still file his defense even if the actual demurrer is denied. (PNA)
