JUNE 26, 2014
A Philippine court on Thursday arraigned a senator on corruption charges for allegedly receiving millions of dollars in kickbacks in a scam that misused a congressional development fund.
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla did not enter a plea to the charge of plunder, a non-bailable offence punishable by life imprisonment.
The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court entered a not guilty plea for him.
His lawyer said Revilla did not enter a plea because his legal team had filed petitions with the Supreme Court to stop the case.
Revilla is one of three senators to face plunder charges stemming from the multimillion-dollar scam that triggered public outrage and street protests last year.
The court cases have become the centrepiece of President Benigno Aquino’s anti-corruption agenda.
Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, son of former president and Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, surrendered to police on Monday.
The court has yet to issue an arrest warrant against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, a 90-year-old former defence minister.
According to a government audit, at least $232m from the congressional development fund were funnelled to non-existent projects and foundations from 2007 to 2009.
The three senators and their aides are accused of receiving a total of more than $13m in kickbacks from the alleged mastermind.
A businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, pleaded not guilty to the plunder charges.
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