Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Monday asked Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda to inhibit himself from hearing the malversation case over the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
Revilla’s camp filed an urgent motion before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, chaired by Miranda, citing the justice’s relationship to lawyer Buenaventura Miranda, who served as counsel for former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo during the Senate inquiry into flood control projects.
Bernardo has since been named a state witness, and Revilla’s lawyers said he could potentially testify against the former senator.
Miranda said the motion for inhibition would be carefully studied and resolved promptly to determine whether voluntary inhibition is warranted.
During the proceedings, Miranda said he had disclosed his ties with his brother from the outset and stressed that the Third Division did not seek the assignment of Revilla’s case.
“Following Sandiganbayan’s internal rules, the case was raffled among the seven divisions, and it landed in our division. We did not ask that the case be given to us,” Miranda said.
The justice added that there was no basis for mandatory inhibition and emphasized his duty to hear the case.
“Under applicable rules, there is no ground for my mandatory inhibition. That is the reason why I am sitting here. This is my duty,” Miranda said.
The justice also assured the parties that personal relationships would not influence his judgment, saying he remains guided by the Sandiganbayan’s core values of honor, integrity, and accountability.
Earlier, Miranda disclosed that he is also friends with one of Revilla’s 11 legal counsels, Ramon Esguerra.
Revilla’s spokesperson, lawyer Francesca Señga, said the motion has merit, stressing that judicial impartiality must exist both in fact and in appearance.
She recalled that Bernardo had testified against Revilla during the Senate inquiry and said the rules require not only actual impartiality but also the appearance of impartiality.
The prosecution panel said it would oppose the motion, describing it as a delaying tactic, a claim Señga denied, saying Revilla is merely exercising his legal rights and following proper procedure.
