Bong Revilla seeks bail for 'pork' plunder

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. who was ordered arrested Friday morning for plunder, has asked Sandiganbayan through his counsel to allow him to post bail.

Revilla, among the principal respondents in the "pork barrel" scam cases, invoked Section 13, Article III of the Constitution, which says "All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required."

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"Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. by counsel, respectfully moves ad abundantia cautelam to be allowed to post bail ... where the evidence of his guilt, as in this case for plunder against him, is not strong," read the petition filed before the Sandiganbayan First Division on Friday.

The court, however, may dismiss the petition if the documentary, testimonial and object evidence turned over by the Office of the Ombudsman is found strong.

Revilla submitted himself to the court around 11:00 a.m. The arrest warrant was not served anymore.

"It is not a surrender," Revilla's lawyer Joel Bodegon said in a radio interview. "He voluntarily submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the court."

After facing the court, the senator will turn himself in to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima in Camp Crame, where a detention room at the PNP Custodial Center has been prepared for him and the others charged over the pork barrel fund scam.

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Both entrances of the custodial center have been closed.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has not yet issued a decision on Revilla's petition questioning his indictment.

Revilla argued that his constitutional right to due process was violated by the Office of the Ombudsman. - with reports from Dennis Carcamo