Revilla, Mendoza arraignment reset

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday postponed the arraignment of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)Bulacan finance chief Juanito Mendoza due to pending motions questioning the malversation charges against them. The charges stem from the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Under the law, an arraignment is the stage where respondents formally enter their plea to the charges.

Because of Revilla’s and Mendoza’s pending motions, the court moved their arraignment to 16 February at 8:30 a.m. The two have also appealed the Sandiganbayan’s 5 February resolution denying their bid to junk the criminal charges.

Despite the postponement for Revilla and Mendoza, the arraignment of the rest of the accused proceeded, where they pleaded not guilty. They include former DPWH Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez; former DPWH Bulacan engineers Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Emelita Juat; and DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda.

The Ombudsman prosecutors charged Revilla, Mendoza, and the five others with conspiring to release about P76 million for the construction of a flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran in Pandi — a project that was never implemented, official inspections and witness accounts revealed.

Earlier, Revilla’s request to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center was denied by the Sandiganbayan for lack of basis. He is instead being held at the Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.

The court said it inspected the Payatas jail on 23 January and found its security measures sufficient for the safekeeping of Revilla and the other accused.

“There is no basis for Revilla’s claim of harm, harassment, or threats that would warrant a transfer to a PNP facility,” the Sandiganbayan said, while also denying the transfer request of Juat.