Published July 8, 2021 8:24am
The Office of the Ombudsman will no longer appeal Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.'s acquittal of 16 graft charges in relation to the pork barrel scam.
In a statement on Thursday, the office said this is in accordance with Ombudsman Samuel Martires' policy of "no longer challenging the dismissal of cases/quashal of information and judgments of acquittal."
"Consistent with the defendant’s constitutional right against double jeopardy, Ombudsman Samuel Martires sets the policy of no longer challenging the dismissal of cases/quashal of information and judgments of acquittal, either through a motion to dismiss, a demurrer to evidence or by a decision, rendered by the trial courts or the Sandiganbayan except when the People was clearly deprived of due process or there was mistrial," the statement said.