FILE PHOTO: Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Revilla called for the resignation of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Task Force Special Operations Unit Head Col. Bong Nebrija after the legislator was dragged into the Edsa carousel busway controversy.
Revilla also called for a recall of the MMDA’s budget as he lamented being falsely accused of illegally using the Edsa lane, exclusive to public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.
“[N]apakasakit ‘yung bigla kang maissuehan ng ganito na hindi totoo. Dapat siguro ay magpaliwanag itong si Nebrija, kaya pinapa-recall ko ngayon ang budget ng MMDA – bumalik sila sa Senado at magpaliwanag sila doon,” Revilla in an interview over DZBB on Wednesday.
(It’s excruciating to be issued something like this that is not true suddenly. Maybe Nebrija should explain, so I am now recalling the MMDA budget – let them go back to the Senate and explain there.)
READ: Revilla denies being apprehended on Edsa bus lane
The senator stressed that the MMDA should have thoroughly verified the circumstances first and not make rash declarations.
Revilla vehemently denied breaching the rule on using the Edsa carousel busway, pointing out that he was in Cavite.
In a media forum also on Wednesday, Nebrija apologized to Revilla. He admitted that he did not see Revilla in the private vehicle that passed through the special Edsa lane on Wednesday morning.
The MMDA official further explained that his statement was “based on the information that was given to [him] and that [he] intends to do no harm.”
READ: MMDA’s Nebrija to Bong Revilla on Edsa busway fuss: ‘Sorry senator’
But Revilla rejected Nebrija’s apology.
“Matindi na ang pinagdaanan ko sa buhay. Nakulong na ako nang napakatagal tapos naglilinis tayo ng pangalan natin. Tapos sisirain tayo ng walang ka-kwenta-kwentang ganito na kasinungalingan na naman? E anak siya ng teteng, hindi na tama ‘yan. Ano yan sorry? Sorry? Humarap ka sa Senado,” he said.
(I’ve been through a lot in life. I’ve been in prison for too long, and then we’re clearing our name. Then they will destroy us with an utterly baseless lie like this again? That’s not right. What’s that sorry? Sorry? Go before the Senate.)
READ: MMDA nets over 300 Edsa bus lane violators
“Hindi pwede ‘yan. Kung talagang nagkasala kami, ticketan mo kami o ipakulong mo kami. Pero ‘yung ganyan, sisirain mo kami eh mali yata ‘yan. Mag-resign ka na. Hindi pwede ‘yung sorry, sorry,” he stressed.
(That’s not allowed. If we are really guilty, give us a ticket or send us to jail. But just like that, you’re going to destroy us. That’s wrong. Resign now. It’s not possible to just say sorry.)
Revilla said he will summon MMDA as soon as possible.
On November 8, the Senate closed the period of interpellations on the proposed 2024 budget of MMDA. The allocation will subsequently undergo a period of amendments before the upper chamber votes on its approval.