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Bong Revilla acquittal ‘sends the wrong signal,’ says De Lima

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/07/20181207-revilla-acquittal-sandiganbayan-md-md2_0177.jpg"/><figcaption>Former Senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. waves to his supporters after he was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan on charges of plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam case on December 7, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANIL—Detained Senator Leila de Lima criticized Saturday the acquittal of former senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. for plunder over the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.Revilla on Friday was cleared by the Sandiganbayan of plunder while his co-accused, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and his former chief-of-staff Richard Cambe, were found guilty over the P10-billion scam.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/07/18/bong-revilla-cleared-of-plunder-in-pork-barrel-scam-case">Bong Revilla cleared of plunder in pork barrel scam case</a></li></ul>The actor-turned-politician was also <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/07/18/bong-revilla-walks-free-after-plunder-acquittal">released</a> from detention on the same day.&quot;I could only shake my head in utter disbelief and dismay. Yesterday was a sad moment for truth, justice and accountability,&quot; De Lima said in a statement.&quot;The acquittal of former Sen. Bong Revilla by the Sandiganbayan in the Napoles PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) Scam plunder case sends the wrong signal,&quot; she added.Revilla, along with then senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, were detained in 2014 for allegedly misusing their discretionary funds following an investigation led by De Lima, then the justice secretary.Enrile was released on bail for humanitarian reasons in 2015, while Estrada followed suit in 2017.Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla are all seeking to return to the Senate in next year&#x27;s elections.De Lima added that she will &quot;remain perplexed&quot; at the &quot;strange&quot; decision rendered in Revilla&#x27;s plunder case.&quot;Indeed, it’s unbelievable as it is ludicrous that Revilla’s aide reaped the benefits of the scam in connivance with Napoles but sans Revilla,&quot; she said.&quot;What is clear is that in the determination of the liability of a lawmaker for the use of his PDAF, ignorance and negligence in how this is utilized by his own office is now a defense.&quot;Revilla on Friday said being released from his 4-year detention feels like a dream.&quot;Para akong nananaginip eh, paglabas ko, totoo ba &#x27;to? After 4 years 6 months ako nakakulong, 1 taon akong niyurakan bago makulong. Halos limang taon mahigit ang nawala sa&#x27;kin,&quot; he said.(It&#x27;s like I&#x27;m dreaming. After I was released, is this real? After 4 years and 6 months in detention, 1 year of being maligned before I was detained. I lost almost five years.)&quot; &#x27;Yung pangyayari na &#x27;yun ay talagang napakabigat kung iisipin mo. Kung sa isang senador nangyari &#x27;yun, what more kung sa isang ordinaryong tao na mabiktima ng ganitong klaseng pangyayari.&quot;(This incident is really heavy. If it happened to a senator, what more to an ordinary person who fell victim to this kind of situation?)De Lima, on the other hand, remains in detention since February 2017 over her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade in the national penitentiary.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/07/18/from-arrest-to-acquittal-bong-revillas-pork-barrel-case">From arrest to acquittal: Bong Revilla&#x27;s &#x27;pork barrel&#x27; case</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/12/07/18/read-sandiganbayan-decision-acquitting-bong-revilla-of-plunder">READ: Sandiganbayan decision acquitting Bong Revilla of plunder</a></li></ul>

De Lima considers the acquittal a "sad moment for truth, justice and accountability."

De Lima considers the acquittal a "sad moment for truth, justice and accountability."