MANILA, Philippines – Dinipensahan ni dating senador Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. si Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno laban sa panawagan ng Ombudsman na mag-inhibit ito sa paglilitis sa malversation kay Revilla kaugnay sa P92.8 milyong flood control project sa Bulacan.
Sa kanyang pagtutol sa mosyon ng Ombudsman na nananawagan ng voluntary inhibition ni Moreno dahil sa umano’y walang respetong pagtatanong sa prosecution witnesses sa bail hearing ni Revilla, sinabi ng dating senador na ang pleading ay dapat na tanggihan dahil sa “lack of factual and legal basis.”
Ang pagtutol ni Revilla ay nauna nang tinukoy sa desisyon ng Sandiganbayan na ibasura ang mosyon ng prosekusyon na humihiling ng recusal ni Moreno dahil sa kakulangan ng merito.
“In his Opposition, accused Revilla prays for the denial of the prosecution’s motion for lack of factual and legal basis. Revilla posits that the very portions of the transcript of stenographic notes (TSNs) cited by the prosecution show that the questions and statements uttered by Justice Moreno were ‘taken out of context’ and [ascribed] to them meanings not supported by the record,” saad sa resolusyon.
“Revilla views these questions and statements as Justice Moreno’s ‘active efforts to understand the witnesses’ testimonies, ascertain the factual bases of their assertions, test the extent of their personal knowledge and their credibility, reconcile apparent inconsistencies in their answers, and clarify the documentary and testimonial evidence presented before the [court]’,” dagdag pa.
Sa kaparehong resolusyon ng Sandiganbayan Third Division, sinabi nito na ang aksyon ni Moreno ay bahagi ng tungkulin ng korte na subukin ang kredibilidad ng bawat witness na ipinipresenta rito.
Sinabi pa na si Moreno ay nakabuo ng practice ng pagtatanong ng clarificatory questions sa mga witness para makatulong sa pagbuo niya ng opinyon.
“This [practice] reflects not only his commitment to ferreting out the truth, but also his independence in evaluating the evidence presented at every stage of the proceedings,” sinabi ng Sandiganbayan.
“Accordingly, his act of propounding clarificatory questions should not be taken against him or construed as an indication of a prejudgment of the case,” dagdag pa.
Si Moreno ang isa sa dalawang Third Division justices na bumoto pabor sa bail petition ni Revilla kasama si Associate Justice Fritz delos Santos. RNT/JGC
