Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Thursday, 12 February, refuted the plunder charge filed against him in connection with alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Revilla, through his spokesperson Atty. Francesca Senga, submitted his counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and expressed confidence that the panel of prosecutors would recommend the dismissal of the complaint.

The former senator arrived at the DOJ Thursday afternoon escorted by personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). He is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

No details were immediately disclosed regarding the specific flood control project cited in the complaint.

“So, we’re hoping they will rule in accordance with the law,” Senga said.

She noted that the case has not yet been submitted for resolution, as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) submitted additional evidence on 10 February, including alleged contracts linked to the questioned flood control projects.

Revilla was given until 20 February to review the additional evidence and file the necessary pleadings.

Present during the preliminary investigation were Revilla’s co-respondents — former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, former DPWH Bulacan First District engineer Henry C. Alcantara, DPWH Regional Director Gerard P. Opulencia, and their respective lawyers.

Senga said the lawyers of Bernardo, Alcantara and Opulencia manifested before the panel that they would no longer submit counter-affidavits after being discharged as state witnesses.

“The legal team will have to discuss these new developments,” she said, adding that Revilla would avail himself of remedies under the law.

Citing the sworn statements of Opulencia and Alcantara, Senga said they admitted having no personal knowledge of the alleged transactions and that their narration was based solely on Bernardo’s statements.

Revilla’s camp also questioned the credibility of Bernardo, noting that he executed six sworn statements that allegedly contained varying details without supporting documents.

Senga said Bernardo allegedly changed the dates, amounts and number of times money was supposedly given to Revilla.

She also disputed claims that Revilla attended a groundbreaking ceremony where an alleged meeting took place, saying he was at a motorcycle fun ride at the time and that there were witnesses.

Meanwhile, a separate panel of prosecutors also conducted a preliminary investigation on another plunder complaint filed against Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada.

DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said respondents in that case were not yet required to submit counter-affidavits, as the NBI had only recently submitted additional evidence.