- Marina Sula, a prosecution witness, changed her claims which became in favor of Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
- Revilla admitted that he felt vindicated hearing Sula’s statement in the hearing in June 28, Thursday.
- Petite Ilagan also posted a series of updates on his own Facebook account.
Marina Sula, a prosecution witness in the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam had changed her testimony on June 28, Thursday. Her testimony also became in favor of plunder defendant and former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Sula was almost in tears at the witness stand on the second day of the defense presentation in front of the Sandiganbayan First Division.
Revilla also admitted that he felt vindicated hearing Sula’s statement in the hearing on June 28, Thursday.
“Naiiyak po ako at natutuwa ng sabay… After 4 years, 4 long years, this. Today’s revelations only confirm what I have known from the beginning – that I was targeted.”
In Petite Ilagan’s Facebook post, Ramon held hands with his wife, Lani Misalucha, as tears of joy flowed out his eyes.
Revilla’s plunder case remained the only one to has reached the stage of defense presentation. The case of former senator Jinggoy Estrada is still in the prosecution presentation stage. Meanwhile, lawyer Estelito Mendoza who represented Revilla legally maneuvered former senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s case to stick in the pre-trial level. Mendoza had also put off Revilla’s defense presentation as he counted on the Supreme Court to step in and stop the trial. The Supreme Court has yet to resolve their petition.
Revilla’s lawyer, Rean Balisi, conducted the direct examination. Their camp managed to delay their presentation for close to six months until they proceeded on June 26, Tuesday. In the said statement, Sula claimed that the star witness Benhur Luy forged Revilla’s signature on the documents.
Sula also stated that she never saw Revilla receive kickbacks from her or pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
“Si Benhur, siya ‘yung mahusay pumirma ng lawmakers at siya ‘yung nakikita kong pumipirma para sa lawmakers. Wala pong alam si Senator Revilla sa paggawa po ng endorsement letters.”
Deputy Special Prosecutor Manuel Soriano had already revealed that they knew Sula would renounce her claims. However, they hoped that she would change her mind at the last minute.
Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona also warned Witness Protection Program (WPP) coverage over what she did. Sula pointed out that Luy made some inaccuracies in his statements.
“Ngayon lang po lumuwag ang loob ko. Noon kasi pigil na pigil lahat. Pero nung nabasa ko ‘yung [transcript of stenographic notes], mayroon po siyang mga maling sinabi.”
Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg asked Sula why she changed her statements this late into the trial. Then, Sula admitted that the former prosecutor Joefferson Toribio coached her into verifying Luy’s inaccurate testimonies.
“Sinabihan kasi ako ng [Ombudsman] panel na mag-corroborate sa sinabi ni Benhur kasi si Benhur ang nauna sa bail hearings. Mayroon po siyang mga sinasabi na para sa akin hindi totoo.”
However, Soriano denied and stated that they stand by other evidence.
“There may be some other reasons, [but] we stand by the other evidence presented by the prosecution, and with respect to the testimony given by her against Judge Toribio, we will never do that.”
Soriano also added that Sula may have feared total admission would make her guilty of other related charges that may not be covered by her immunity.
“Nagkaroon kasi ng mga cases na na-file sa kanya, kasi ang immunity nila per case lang, per legislator, so siguro may mga nakalusot na hindi pa siya nakakuha ng immunity at na-charge siya.”
Although Sula denied seeing Revilla receive money personally, her earlier testimony regarding Revilla’s former chief of staff Richard Cambe receiving money on his behalf still stands.
Soriano also pointed out that Sula didn’t say that Luy’s testimony was completely wrong.
“Insofar as we are concerned, hindi pa naman [affected ang kaso namin kay Revilla] kasi intact pa naman ang testimony ni Benhur. Hindi naman niya (Sula) sinabi na totally mali ang testimony ni Benhur.”
