The Ombudsman has indicted senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and several others for plunder and graft in connection with the PDAF pork barrel scam.
Enrile didn’t issue any comment following the Ombudsman’s news conference on its findings and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III’s announcement of the blue ribbon committee report. He is still in the country.
But Estrada has been in the United States since last week to be with his wife, Precy, who is going to have a follow-up medical check. A member of his staff said the couple and their children would also be on vacation.
The Manila International Airport Authority confirmed that Estrada booked a Cathay Pacific flight on March 26, departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:45 a.m. According to the Cathay Pacific flight information desk, flight number CX192 was bound for Hong Kong.
Estrada vowed to return soon to face all the cases against him.
Meanwhile, Revilla is with his family on a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel, having left the country on Sunday, March 30. He also said he will return to answer the charges.
What happens next?
The three senators and their co-respondents have five days from receipt of the Office of the Ombudsman Joint Resolutions to appeal the decision by filing their respective motions for reconsideration.
The information for plunder and graft will be filed in the antigraft court Sandiganbayan once the Ombudsman rules on the individual motions for reconsideration with finality, or by making the determination of probable cause final.
Once docketed, the Sandiganbayan will raffle the cases to determine which of the five divisions will handle the cases.
Once a division receives the information, a warrant of arrest will be issued to the accused. Arraignment will follow.
Plunder is punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, and forfeiture of the ill-gotten wealth in favor of the government. While plunder is nonbailable, an accused may be allowed to post bail once filing a petition if the evidence against him is weak.
Graft or corrupt practices are punishable by imprisonment of not less than six years and one month, and not more than 15 years, perpetual disqualification from public office and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the state of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth.
Bail is allowed in graft.
In every step of the judicial process, an accused may seek relief or remedies to challenge/quash the information or stop his arraignment, or cite violations of his right to due process by the Ombudsman.--Source: Inquirer