Daily Serving of Legal Matters

Among the Philippine Senators who were charged with the crime of plunder, it was Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr who was brought to arraignment before the Sandiganbayan where the case is pending. However, Senator Revilla refused to pose any plea when asked of his plea. A photo of Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. taken from bing images. What is the effect of Senator Revilla’s refusal to enter any plea? In criminal cases, arraignment is done basically to inform the accused of the case against him.  He is also informed of the nature and cause of the accusation.  In order to make the arraignment valid, it must be done in a language or dialect spoken and understood by the accused.  If the arraignment is done in a language or dialect foreign or stranger to the accused, the proceeding is infirmed and is prone to challenge in the proper forum. In this manner, the court should have a ready interpreter that would intelligently translate or interpret th...

Finally after the myriad legal maneuvers invoked by both parties, the crime of plunder has been charged to those persons linked to 10-Billion Peso PDAF Scam.  Among the personalities indicted are the three Philippine Senators and the alleged Pork-Barrel Queen Janet Lim-Napoles. A photo of some of the accused (Napoles, Revilla, Enrile and Estrada) in the Plunder Case taken from Bing Images. As a matter of fact, the Filipinos have witnesses the real life drama unfolded on their very eyes.  The warrant of arrest has been ordered for the arrest to one of the accused Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.   This post is not to prejudice the minds of the Filipinos nor it would insinuate the guilt of all of the accused.  It would simply tell how the crime of plunder is committed and other salient features of the plunder law as embodied in Republic Act No. 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act.  Definition of the crime of plunder: Any public officer wh...