- Sandiganbayan cleared former Senator Bong Revilla of plunder charges.
- Revilla have been incarcerated for four years.
- Netizens expressed ‘mixed reactions’ over the Report.
The prosecution failed to prove that former Senator Bong Revilla received millions in kickbacks from alleged ghost projects which were funded via pork barrel.
On Friday, December 7, the Sandiganbayan cleared the Senator of plunder charges after four years of being incarcerated. Meanwhile, co-accused and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and former chief-of-staff Richard Cambe were found guilty of plunder.
A timeline of Arrest to Acquittal.
Senators Revilla, Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada were tagged in a special report by the Commission on Audit. They were allegedly endorsed part of their discretionary funds to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) linked to Napoles on August 16, 2013.
The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy claimed he transacted with the offices of Enrile, Revilla and Estrada for Napoles. He revealed that Revilla received the biggest kickback with Php 224-million on September 12, 2013.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) filed plunder charges against the three senators on September 16, 2013. Revilla was included in the list of government officials that Napoles claimed she transacted with. The list was released on May 15, 2014.
The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Revilla and he readily surrendered to authorities at the anti-graft court on June 20, 2014.
Revilla claimed that he was as much a victim in the PDAF scam during the hearing on July 27, 2017. The Sandiganbayan ended the plunder trial of Revilla on August 9, 2018.
Netizens react.
“bulok talaga justice system sa bansa natin”
“Again. An example politician can get away from taking taxpayers money. Hayyy buhay.”
“another plunderer freed. thanks to duterte”
“EXPECTED! Syempre kaalyado ng nakaupo ngayon eh! Nililigawan nila fans nito para iboto manok nila! No longer believe in our justice system. Pagalingan lang ng pagdefend at pagsasalita, sure win! Kakalungkot! Ang gobyerno natin nagtutulak SA tao mawalan ng tiwala SA kanila”
“Well what a sad day for TAXPAYERS!!! this is just what i can say… *now that pork barrel system is back in the next budget , its just HURT to pay TAX when they can start again doing such things …”
“Masaya ako para kay former Sen. Bong Revilla.”
“Being in a limelight seems to me, people has the right to say anything about anything, I don’t hate the President or anybody, next time, just learn to vote wisely. Power corrupts, don’t put weak people immune to greed in power. Good luck to you.”
“Anong klaseng hatol yan!??? Paki-explain! 
yung mga kasama guilty pero itong si Revilla not guilty!???”
“Wow! Ano to gaguhan? Mas malala pa ito sa pang gagagu ni jade kay lino ah,mr.president wag naman gawing kaharian ng mga trapo ang pilipinas.”
“HAVE MONEY MONEY MONEY——CRIME DOES PAY!!!!!!!”
The Malacañang Palace hoped people would respect Sandiganbayan’s decision.
