Aquino gets back at me for not supporting Palace bet, says Revilla
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. PHOTO BY NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said he was being persecuted by the current administration after he rejected President Benigno Aquino III’s request to support latter’s gubernatorial bet in Cavite during the last the elections.
“Tahasan kong sinasabi sa ating mga kababayan ngayon na nagsimula lang naman ang lahat ng panggigipit ng gobyerno nang tanggihan ko ang pakiusap ng Pangulong Aquino na suportahan ang kanyang kandidato sa pagka-gobernador sa Cavite,” Revilla said in his privilege speech.
(I dare say that it all started when I rejected Aquino’s request that I support the administration’s gubernatorial bet in Cavite.)
“Magmula po noon, kakaibang pressure na at pangha-harass ang ginawa sa amin lalo nang matalo ang kandidato ng Pangulo sa aming lalawigan,” he said.
(Since then, I was subjected to various forms of pressure and harassment that heightened when their candidate lost.)
The administration’s bet for governor in Cavite was Irineo Maliksi, who lost to incumbent Governor Jonvic Remulla. Remulla was present at the session hall of the Senate to listen to Revilla’s speech.
Revilla took the floor to repeatedly deny his involvement in the P10-billion “pork barrel” scam, saying it was just the government’s ploy to cover-up its own failures.
In his speech, the senator branded the principal whistle-blower of the scam, Benhur Luy, as “liar” and “Boy Pirma,” referring to his alleged expertise in forging signatures.
If the Department of Budget and Management has what he described as “Boy Xerox” who faked Saros (Special Allotment Release Order), then Revilla asked why it seemed so difficult to believe that it was also “Boy Pirma” (Luy) who faked documents of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund.
“Bakit pag lilinisin ang tauhan nila sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management), not guilty without thinking? Pero kapag kalaban nila no way? Oh no, Mr. President, that’s very aBAD!” the senator said, an apparent reference to Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.
(Why is it that when the DBM people committed wrongdoing…they are not guilty ..and without thinking? But if they were political rivals, no way.)
“Sa halip na kasuhan dahil sa pag aming pineke nila ang mga pirma ng mga mambabatas, mas pinili nilang gawin itong testigo laban sa kung sinu-sino para lamang maging buo ang kanilang planong wasakin ang inyong lingkod at mga taong sa tingin nila ay magiging tinik sa lalamunan nila sa 2016,” he said.
(Instead of charging them for admitting they forged the signatures of lawmakers, the administration used them as witnesses to destroy me because they believe I am a threat to their political plans in 2016.)
Revilla also denied Luy’s claim that he gave the senator’s kickbacks from PDAF through his chief of staff and chief political officer, Richard Cambe.
“For the record, Mr. President, kailanman mula noon hanggang ngayon, hindi ko naging chief of staff o chief political officer si Atty. Richard Cambe. Get your facts straight!” he said.
(For the record, Mr. President, Atty. Richard Cambe is neither my chief of staff nor political officer.)
Revilla lamented that in his almost 20 years in public service, he had not been accused of any irregularities. But because of politics, he said, his name and his person have been ruined.
“Para na nila akong pinatay. Unti-unting tinatalupan nang buhay. Hinihiwa ng blade ang buong katawan na lumalatay sa aking pamilya. Ang hirap lang, sa hangad kong tumulong, ako pa ngayon ang ikukulong,” he said.
(They are virtually killing me. Slowly I am being skinned alive. My body is being torn away with a piece of blade that causes pain to my family. The tough part is that in my desire to help, I am being restrained.)
Revilla said he was not asking the President to bail him out of the pork scam but all he wanted was that he and other accused in the scam would be treated fairly and presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In the end, the senator said, he has already accepted “whatever fate has in store for me.”
“I have already accepted this political persecution and I will face whatever comes next,” he said.
“I am not afraid. Hindi po ako natatakot. I have already surrendered my fate to God,” Revilla further said.
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