The Sandiganbayan yesterday acquitted former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla of plunder charges in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.
The court’s First Division however convicted Janet Lim-Napoles and Richard Cambe and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua.
Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg, Edgardo Caldona, and Georgina Hidalgo voted for acquittal. Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, who leads the First Division, and Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta dissented.
Revilla was accused of allocating P224mn from his ‘pork barrel’ to non-government organisations owned or controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles.