THE Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday again postponed the arraignment of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office finance section chief Juanito Mendoza over a pending malversation case linked to an alleged ghost flood control project.
The anti-graft court deferred the arraignment due to unresolved motions filed by Revilla and Mendoza questioning the charge against them in connection with the supposed P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
As a result, their arraignment was reset to February 16 at 8:30 a.m.
Court records show that Revilla and Mendoza have appealed the Sandiganbayan’s February 5 resolution that denied their motions seeking the dismissal of the criminal case, among other reliefs.
Despite the postponement, the arraignment of the other accused proceeded as scheduled, with all of them entering not guilty pleas.
Those who pleaded not guilty 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.
Ombudsman prosecutors earlier accused Revilla, Mendoza, and their co-accused of conspiring to facilitate the release of around P76 million for the construction of a flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan, which was allegedly never implemented based on inspection reports and witness accounts.
The Sandiganbayan previously denied Revilla’s request to be detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center while the case is pending, citing lack of legal basis.
