Former Senator Bong Revilla on Thursday appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file his counter-affidavit on a plunder charge as the preliminary investigation continues over alleged anomalous flood control projects.
In an interview with justice reporters, lawyer Francesca Señga said Revilla filed his counter-affidavit in response to the complaint against him.
“Today is the preliminary investigation into the plunder charge against Senator Bong. Whatever was filed now is the same as before, except that the crime indicated is plunder,” she said.
Aside from Revilla, former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Gerard Opulgencia, and Henry Alcantara were also named in the case.
Señga said they were surprised that the three other respondents manifested they would no longer file counter-affidavits, citing their discharge under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“It is puzzling. There are four respondents, three are under witness protection, and only one is left. We only saw in the documents they submitted that Usec. Bernardo was discharged as a state witness in November and Mr. Alcantara in December,” she said.
Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said no respondent is exempt from filing a counter-affidavit unless they choose to waive it.
“If a respondent has been admitted as a state witness into the WPP, they must allege that fact as a matter of defense in their respective counter-affidavits,” he said.
“Also, as part of WPP procedure, they must provide the panel of prosecutors a copy of a Certificate of Materiality issued by the WPP,” he added.
Martinez said only upon compliance with these requirements may the panel discharge them from being included in the case filed in court.
Revilla, who is detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, was escorted by personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to the DOJ.
When asked for a message, the former senator said, “I do not know how those who accused me can sleep.”
Before leaving the DOJ premises, he waved to supporters carrying banners that read, “We love you, Sen. Bong,” and “The truth will come out. Sen. Bong is innocent.”
