Senator Bong Revilla hugs his father Ramon Revilla, Sr., after delivering his privilege speech at the senate session hall on Monday. INQUIRER PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines–“Tamaan ng kidlat kung sino ang nagsisinungaling (May lightning strike he who lies).”
This was how Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. reacted to President Benigno Aquino III’s admission Tuesday that they had met in Malacañang during the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona, not to influence the senator’s decision but to ensure that he would vote based on the merits of the case.
“That’s not true. Hindi napag-usapan yun (It was not discussed),” Revilla told reporters on Tuesday.
Asked then if the President was lying, the senator said: “Tamaan ng kidlat kung sino ang nagsisinungaling.”
Revilla issued the same statement when told about Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas’ claim that the meeting was about a bill on the cityhood of Bacoor. Roxas was the one who brought Revilla to Malacañang to meet with the President.
Revilla said there was no need to discuss the measure with the President since the city had already complied with the requirement.
“Hindi natin kailangan ng approval ng Pangulo,” he said.
And if Roxas was indeed his friend, Revilla then asked why he was asked to sit at the back of the vehicle.
“Bakit kailangang paupuin ako sa likod ng sasakyan? Kung katalagang kaibigan nya ako, doon nya ako pauupuin sa tabi nya’’, he pointed out.
Revilla then challenged Aquino and Roxas to face him in public and to look at each other–eye-to-eye–to see who is lying.
“Kung sasabihin nilang sinungaling ako, I challenge both of them to go to public, magharap kami, magtinginan kami eye to eye para malaman ng tao kung sino ang nagsisinungaling sa amin at tamaan ng kidlat kung sino ang nagsisinungaling sa amin,” he said.
Revilla voted to impeach Corona but said his decision was not influenced by the President.
Asked if he got a reward from the President after voting yes to Corona’s impeachment, the senator said: “In fairness to the President, walang ganun. Tanungin nyo na lang si Senator Jinggoy (Estrada).”
Asked if his statement meant that Estrada got a reward, Revilla said again: “Tanungin nyo na lang si Sen. Jinggoy.”
Two weeks after impeaching Corona in May 2012, Revilla said Malacañang invited all senators who voted to impeach the former Chief Justice to thank them.
“It’s just a get-together party, a thanksgiving party,” he said.
Revilla believed that the President had committed an impeachable offense when he meddled in the Corona impeachment.
“I do believe it’s impeachable. Hindi dapat makikiaalam ang Pangulo especially kaming mga senator-judges,” he said.
But Revilla clarified that he was not after Aquino’s impeachment.