The Sandiganbayan on Monday entered a plea of not guilty for former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. after he opted not to personally respond during his arraignment for a graft charge tied to an alleged ghost flood control project in Bulacan.
The case is being heard by the court’s Fourth Division, which proceeded with the arraignment despite Revilla’s refusal to enter a plea, prompting the tribunal to record one on his behalf.
In a separate but related case, the Third Division deferred the arraignment of Revilla and co-accused accountant Juanito Mendoza in a malversation case. The hearing was reset to Feb. 16 while the court considers pending motions for reconsideration.
Revilla also asked the Third Division to inhibit Associate Justice Karl Miranda, citing the magistrate’s familial relationship with a lawyer linked to a prosecution witness in the case.
The Third Division earlier ordered the arrest and issued hold-departure orders against Revilla and six former officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with the same project.
Those charged include former assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, engineers Arjay Domasig and Emelita Capistrano-Juat, and cashier Christina Mae del Rosario-Pineda, all previously assigned to the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office. They have all pleaded not guilty.
Miranda told the court that he had already disclosed his ties to the lawyer involved and said there were no grounds for his mandatory inhibition, although he assured that the motion would be resolved carefully to safeguard public trust in the judiciary.
Revilla had earlier posted bail for the graft case but remained detained, as malversation of public funds is a nonbailable offense. Prosecutors alleged that the accused conspired to release at least P76 million for a P92.8-million flood control project that was never carried out.
