THE Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday denied former Senator Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla’s second motion for inhibition against Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda aimed to prevent him from participating in Mr. Revilla’s P92.8-million malversation case.
In a resolution dated Sept. 24, released on Tuesday, the anti-graft court denied Mr. Revilla’s motion for lack of merit, ruling that Mr. Miranda is in the best position to determine whether or not there was a need to inhibit from the case and that his decision to hear the case should be respected.
The Sandiganbayan ruled that Mr. Revilla failed to provide clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Miranda had done anything wrong that would warrant his removal from hearing and resolving the case, as was done in his first motion for inhibition filed on Feb. 8.
Mr. Miranda’s brother, Buenaventura, represented former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo. Mr. Revilla alleges that Mr. Miranda’s reliance on Mr. Bernardo’s testimony casts doubt on his ability to remain impartial throughout the proceedings.
“The court denied the same in its Resolution dated Feb. 10, 2026, stating that Mr. Revilla failed to demonstrate any act or conduct that indicates Justice Miranda’s bias or partiality. Instead, it was the mere relationship between Justice Miranda and Atty. Miranda that was perceived as the source of impropriety,” the Sandiganbayan said in a resolution.
The Sandiganbayan also ruled that Mr. Miranda’s remarks to all the accused in the case regarding the Good Conduct and Time Allowance (GCTA) Law are not attended by any malice or bad faith.
This comes after Mr. Revilla claimed that Mr. Miranda went to see all the accused and encouraged them to look into the benefits available under the GCTA Law, saying that these statements appeared to assume that the accused would face longer prison time and gave the impression that Mr. Miranda had prejudged the case.
“Justice Miranda’s remarks to all of the accused in this case regarding the GCTA Law are therefore not attended by any malice or bad faith. Far from it, they stem from Justice Miranda’s concern for all PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) and his advocacy for their rights,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Mr. Revilla is currently facing a malversation case involving a nonexistent P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza