Senator Bong Revilla, shown in photo on his way to be detained on plunder and graft charges, said his lawyer, Sal Panelo, only talked about the rats and roaches in his cell in jest. Revilla’s lawyer has said the senator’s family saw rats “as big as cats” inside the senator’s cell. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Detained Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla and his lawyer Joel Bodegon have formally cut ties, according to a manifestation sent to the Sandiganbayan First Division Wednesday, but made public Thursday.
In a two-page document, Bodegon, who said last week that he will stop handling Revilla’s pork barrel scam cases, informed the court that he is no longer lawyering for the senator.
“Undersigned law firm respectfully withdraws as Counsel for Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. in the instant case. Sen. Revilla’s conformity is indicated herein below,” the document said.
Revilla is accused of funneling millions of pesos in his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel fund to fictitious non-government organizations for kickbacks. The said NGOs were allegedly put up by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. Revilla and his co-accused allegedly received P224.5 million in kickbacks from 2006 to 2010.
In December 2014, The Sandiganbayan denied Revilla’s bid for temporary freedom. He has filed a motion for reconsideration that is currently pending before the anti-graft court.
Prior to serving as counsel for Revilla, Bodegon was one of the lawyers of former Chief Justice Renato Corona during his 2012 impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, in the same document, Bodegon asked that all of Revilla’s documents related to the pork barrel scam be sent to the senator’s office at the Senate, until a new lawyer is named.
“Henceforth, it is kindly requested that copy of all orders and processes of the Honorable Court as well as pleadings, motions and other submissions be served directly upon accused at Room 506, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, until appearance of new counsel,” Bodegon said.
Earlier, Bodegon – a managing partner of the Bodegon, Estorninos, Guerzon, Borje and Gozos Law Offices – said his co-counsel during the Corona impeachment trial, lawyer Ramon Esquerra, could replace him as Revilla’s lawyer.(MNS)