Revilla allowed to skip malversation trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division has allowed former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. to skip his P92.8-million malversation trial until July.

Revilla’s waiver of appearance covers the period when the prosecution presents its witnesses and evidence, according to his lawyer Anthony Balisi.

Graft and malversation charges have been filed against Revilla and six others over a ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Testifying before the anti-graft court, Bulacan public works engineer Ferdinand Vergara Jr. said the project did not have an approved construction materials testing report despite being certified complete.