Bail hearings for Revilla, Napoles start July 10

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan is scheduled to begin bail hearings next week to determine if Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles should be granted temporary liberty while undergoing trial for plunder based on their claims that the evidence against them is weak.

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s First Division chaired by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz said presentation of witnesses by the prosecution is set on Thursday, July 10.

Bail hearings will be held every Thursday thereafter both in the morning and the afternoon as agreed upon by ombudsman prosecutors and defense counsels.

Revilla and Napoles were arraigned last June 26 along with the senator’s former chief of staff Richard Cambe.

In asking the court to grant them temporary liberty, Revilla and Napoles also said they do not intend to leave the country while being tried for plunder and graft.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division headed by Associate Justice Roland Jurado has yet to rule on Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s and Napoles’ separate motions for bail while the Third Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, has not yet issued arrest warrants against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and his co-accused.  – With Edu Punay, Evelyn Macairan